Improving Pedestrian Safety in the Downtown
We have many improvement projects underway in the Downtown. These projects will improve pedestrian safety as they will be providing brand new hazard free sidewalks and curbs for increased ease of mobility and they will also contain traffic calming/speed reduction features such as curb bump-outs. Curb bump outs enhance pedestrian safety by increasing pedestrian visibility, shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles, and visually narrowing the roadway - they can also make for a nicer looking city!
Beginning in May - August 2021 we will have these projects on the go in the Downtown:
- St. Mary Avenue from Carlton St to Main St: Replacement of sidewalks, new concrete sidewalks and curbs.
- Donald Street from Broadway to Gertrude Avenue: Pavement rehabilitation will consist of removal of existing asphalt, repairing concrete pavement, replacing curbs, new sidewalk and an asphalt overlay.
- Donald Street from St. Mary Avenue to Broadway: Pavement reconstruction will consist of removal and replacement of the existing pavement, and construction of new concrete sidewalks.
Beginning this August to October 2021
- Hargrave Street from Broadway to York Street: Pavement reconstruction will consist of removal and replacement of the existing pavement, and construction of new concrete sidewalks.
Looking forward into the start of the next construction season in 2022, Smith Street from Graham Avenue to Notre Dame Avenue will see the installation of curb bump-outs in the following locations:
- The northwest corner of the intersection of Smith Street and Graham Avenue. For pedestrians crossing Smith Street on the north side of Graham Avenue this will reduce the crossing distance from 4 lanes to 3 lanes.
- The northwest corner of the intersection of Smith Street and Portage Avenue. For pedestrians crossing Smith Street on the north side of Portage Avenue this will reduce the crossing distance from 4 lanes to 3 lanes.
- The northwest corner of the intersection of Smith Street and Ellice Avenue. For pedestrians crossing Smith Street on the north side of Ellice Avenue this will reduce the crossing distance from 4 lanes to 3 lanes.
- A curb bump-out and a new sidewalk will be constructed adjacent to the entire length of the Radisson Hotel. This will allow pedestrians to have a continuous sidewalk along Smith Street and not have to walk under/through the Radisson Hotel parkade ramps. For pedestrians crossing Smith Street on the south side of Portage Avenue this will reduce the crossing distance from 4 lanes to 3 lanes.
- A new pedestrian corridor crosswalk with overhead flashing lights will replace the existing crosswalk at the intersection of Smith Street and Navy Way. The new pedestrian corridor crosswalk will look like what is installed at Donald Street and Hargrave Place.