The crosswalks that also function like speed humps would be a first for the city, said development and transportation manager Alister Brown.
“They just enhance the level of awareness for the approaching driver,” he said, noting drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
“Certainly in the right situation, (raised crosswalks) can be applied effectively without it negatively impacting traffic volume, and at the same time just making a safer location for pedestrians and cyclists alike to cross the road where they need to.”
Hopes are they could also help reduce cut-through traffic “like we do see on Afton Drive from time to time,” he said.
Building the larger east-west walking and cycling corridor through the city, linking major north-south trails, Germain Park and Lambton College with the St. Clair River, began in 2021, including building a pathway through local school and hospital properties, connecting East and Russell streetsand adding lighted crossovers at major streets.
Another 1.35km of asphalt is planned for trail sections on Germain Street, Afton Drive and Murphy Road, as part of the second phase, connecting the pathway to the Howard Watson Nature Trail and Lambton College, as well as upgrades to share-the-road markings through Coronation Park side roads Preston Avenue, Mayfair Drive and Minto Street, Brown said.
Similar enhancements are planned for side streets closer to the city’s waterfront in the future, though that’s not part of this phase of the project, he said.
Work is expected to start Sept. 25 and finish Nov. 3. City council decides Sept. 11 whether to award the recommended $830,000 contract to DiCocco Contractors 2015 Inc.
Work also includes landscape infill, boulevard restoration and curb and gutter installation, city documents say.
“This is one we’ve been looking forward to obviously since the completion of the first phase,” Brown said, noting there’s been good use on trail sections since.
“We’re excited to see it move forward.”
Local active transportation advocacy group the nuSarnia Foundation, meanwhile, are offering up to $15,000 for a more stylized pedestrian crossing as part of the project.
Council also will consider that offer at the Sept. 11 meeting.