After three decades of waiting, residents of Mono’s Cedar Grove subdivision are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel — a traffic light, that is.

Frustrated residents have long been calling for a traffic signal to be installed on Highway 10 at Cedar Grove Road. Some have been making treacherous turns from Cedar Grove on to the busy highway for close to 30 years.

At Tuesday’s Mono council meeting, however, a delegation was told tenders for installation of the traffic light and turning lanes at the intersection would be issued July 1 and the signals should be up and working by October.

The $1-million cost of the improvements will be paid by developers now building houses on the west side of Highway 10 behind the Royal Chev Cadillac dealership.

While the various developers have put the money aside, there has been difficulty clearing it through the Ministry of Transportation. At Tuesday’s council meeting, Mono planning director Mark Early said the latest signal design was the sixth revision the town has submitted to the ministry.

The resultant delays led to a petition being circulated in the subdivision by resident Everett Black which asked council to obtain assurances from the ministry that the project will be completed this year.

Reaction from the subdivision residents ranged from guarded optimism to outright relief. “This sounds a little more positive,” said Golden Road resident Pam Claridge. “The residents are going to be so relieved. Up to now, it’s been awful.”

Currently, drivers leaving the subdivision, who wish to turn left, must contend with crossing two northbound lanes of the provincial highway. While the speed limit there is 60 km/h, it is not uncommon for vehicles to be travelling a lot faster.

More often than not, drivers face long waits before they can successfully navigate the turn; particularly during rush hour and during the summer months when Highway 10 is a busy tourist highway.

“If you know you can drive somewhere in five minutes,” pointed out Ms. Claridge, “you always have to add another five minutes, because you can be sure you will be hung up at that corner.”

The intersection has been the scene of many accidents, several involving serious injuries.

Meanwhile, Orangeville council has authorized staff to proceed with the installation of pedestrian signals, and the corresponding roadwork, across Fourth Avenue at Highway 10.

The signal will help pedestrians cross the intersection when they are using the town trails system.

The Friends of Island Lake organization has also been constructing trails in the Island Lake lands. Part of its plans include a trail way on the south side of the lake that would connect to the Town trails at Fourth or Fifth Avenue.

Although “walk” lights are already in place at Fifth Avenue, Fourth was eventually chosen and, as a result, a pedestrian crossing signal for Highway 10 is required at that intersection.

The Friends of Island Lake wanted to retain what funds it has to build trails, and have asked that the Town pay for the signals.

The 2009 budget included an allocation of $22,000.

Therefore, if the Town is to fund the entire project, Mr. Tupling says an additional $59,300.00 has to be identified to cover the costs of both the Fourth and Fifth Avenue traffic signals.

The Fourth Avenue signals are expected be completed and functional in July, at the latest.