A contentious change to a busy Orléans intersection is undergoing further study after complaints from residents and area councillors questioning whether the move was the right one.

Frustrations arose when one of the left-turning lanes on Place d'Orléans Boulevard leading to St. Joseph Boulevard was modified to a straight-ahead-only in November. The switch came after a new Shopper's Drug Mart location opened at 2954 St. Joseph Blvd., to accommodate traffic heading to the business.

The change has had a major impact on Orléans commuters, many of whom use the route on their trip home, says Stephen Blais, president of the Queenswood Heights Community Association, the neighbourhood encompassing the intersection in question.

"A lot of residents use the Place exit to pop up Duford," he explains. "You now increase at rush hour the congestion for left-hand turns … it impacts pretty much all of Orléans."

Blais says he has "definitely experienced" the Place d'Orléans-to-St. Joseph crunch, along with numerous other east-end residents.

"People are a little frustrated," he adds. "The commute's long enough already."

Beyond the inconvenience, with so many residents still using the centre lane for left turns "out of habit and frustration" – and a new pedestrian crossing added as well – safety at the intersection could become a concern, Blais continues.

Fixing the problem "should be a simple solution" – namely, making the centre lane both a straight-ahead and left-turn, he says.

"On a map, it might make sense, but you have to come down here and see it," Blais adds. "(The centre lane) needs to have both options. I don't see what the argument against it would be."

Complaints about the lane modification have been coming in since it was completed, continues Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, who alongside Orléans Coun. Bob Monette is working with city staff to determine if the change is hindering more than helping.

The whole pedestrian and traffic interaction has changed," he says. "People are creatures of habit, so it's taken them a while to adjust."

Current studies being undertaken by the city's traffic department will determine if the switch has been "causing grief," Bloess explains, adding that his personal preference lies with the prior intersection setup.

"I like the previous status quo," he continues, suggesting that study statistics may be available as soon as next month. "I'm still not convinced, but I'm trying to be open-minded."

Tom Fitzgerald, program manager for traffic engineering for the city, says the Place d'Orléans lane was converted after studies found the volume heading through the intersection didn't warrant two left-turn options.

With such an "extremely good" service level at the intersection and a left-turn arrow to help clear vehicles, impacts should have been minimal since the change, he adds.

"You might see a slightly longer cue (for the left turn) … but it's not considered congestion conditions," Fitzgerald continues.

Regardless, the city is now currently examining traffic statistics for the area, he says, and whether any issues have arisen since the lane modification.

"We'll sit down once the numbers come in … and make some decisions from there," Fitzgerald adds.