Some motorists are calling on Wolfville's town council to do something that has never been done in the Nova Scotia community's 123-year history — install a traffic light.

"It's completely ridiculous driving through this small town," said Tammy Sabean, who often heads through Wolfville to reach her home in nearby Port Williams.

The traffic has been extra busy this summer and fall as construction on Highway 101 brought more cars into the community. That combined with the start of Acadia University's fall sitting and general tourism to create long lines of traffic in Wolfville.

Traffic backs up eastward on Sherwood Drive in Wolfville due to the intersection, residents say. (George St. Amour)

Some people are calling on council to install a traffic light at the intersection of Main Street and Gasperau Avenue to better control traffic.

"You need a set of lights, like people need to come up to the times now," Sabean said.

"We're not living way back in the time where a stop sign was enough. It's entirely too busy. They need lights. They need walk lights that actually tell people when they can and cannot walk and they need proper intersection lights."

'Near misses there'

Michael Bawtree, who lives on Main Street, said he finds the four-way stop dangerous to pedestrians.

"People are so busy watching the cars, working out which one was first that they don't notice that the pedestrians are also crossing," he said.

"It's a danger — and we've had a couple of near misses there."

Bawtree said many times when he pulls out of his driveway he's stuck in a long line of traffic that delays him for up to 30 minutes.

"The lineups have been crazy. I don't like traffic lights — it would be nice if we didn't have one, but we just have to find some way of moving the traffic through a bit faster."

Temporary solution considered

Wolfville Mayor Jeff Cantwell said the traffic problems are nothing new. He said every year there's a jump in traffic in the town during the summer and fall.

Town council is discussing a traffic light, but Cantwell said it's considering including the work in the long-term capital plan to upgrade infrastructure on Main Street. That means it could take four to five years before lights get installed, if council decides to do that.

In the meantime, council is considering whether or not it will install temporary lights at the intersection at peak times, such as summer and fall.

"Do we put in a temporary solution for a while? Well, we're going to look at that and it'll be up to council," Cantwell said.