‘Way too many accidents’; Concerns over potential fatality prompts permanent Elgin County Rd. closure

A sign indicates the west end of Ford Rd. will close permanently on June 30, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

A large volume of serious crashes has prompted Southwold Township to shut down Ford Road at Talbot Line in Elgin County.

As of June 30th, the road which sees close to 2,000 cars per day, will become a dead end at Highway 3.

“It’s just the number of accidents we’re seeing and some pretty serious accidents,” said Grant Jones, mayor of Southwold Township and warden of Elgin County.

“Fire (Southwold Fire Dept.) is out there a lot and they are saying the same thing that they’re concerned about what was going on there.”

He added that with traffic volumes expected over the next few years, the “most common-sense thing to do is to just shut it down.”

The three-way intersection which includes Ford Road, Talbot Line and Ron McNeil Line, is notorious for crashes, with Jones saying they happen almost weekly.

With a curve in the highway, drivers often fail to anticipate the speed of those on Talbot Line.

CTV London attended a crash there last month.

“Drivers often try to sneak through, and they don’t really have the time because those cars are coming at 80 km/h or 90 km/h around that bend in there. They get to that intersection really quick.”

The intersection will soon be under construction as part of the Highway 3 widening project, which will see new roads built to bypass Talbotville.

Before that happens, the municipality decided to shut it down early, and will build a turning circle at the west end of Ford Rd.

“We had the public meeting for the final meeting for the closure and we had full council chambers,” said Jones.

“Everybody was supportive. I know the locals along Ford Road and the whole Ferndale area, I think there’s only one person that was a little upset about it. The rest of people are happy we did it right.”

With a number of serious crashes sending people to hospital, Jones believes they are doing the right thing.

“We haven’t had anybody die there yet, but it’s just a matter of time before it did happen,” says the mayor.