POTSDAM — Plans to renovate a dangerous intersection have been delayed until 2013 as winter approaches.

Morley-Potsdam Road meets Morgan Road, Waite Road and Flat Rock Road at a single, broad intersection, known to locals as “five corners.”

Drivers can cut across two roads at once, leading to numerous dangerous situations and a history of accidents, according to town Highway Superintendent John Keleher.

The town received federal funds earlier this year to pay for long-awaited reconstruction of the intersection.

The project was approved by the Town Council in June, but needed the approval of the state Department of Transportation before the funds would be granted.

The DOT approval did not come until mid-October, which would have pushed the project well into November.

“You never know what’s going to happen in the winter,” Mr. Keleher said.

Instead, the project was delayed until June.

Once work begins, Morgan Road will be narrowed to realign the intersection with the rest of the road.

Waite Road will be moved slightly to create a T-shaped intersection at Morgan Road, rather than emptying into one wide intersection shared by all four streets, and a stop sign currently at the intersection of Waite Road and Morgan Road will be moved to the intersection of Morgan Road and Morley-Potsdam Road.

These changes will force drivers to come to a stop before turning onto Morley-Potsdam Road rather than cutting through multiple intersections.

The renovation will take about three weeks. Potsdam’s other highway projects slated for 2013 will be completed throughout the spring and early summer.

“That way hopefully everything will be done by mid-July,” Mr. Keleher said.

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