Tuesday February 15, 2022 | SAANICH, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Improvements to Cedar Hill Cross Road will be undertaken February 16 through February 18, by the District of Saanich.
“This work is in response to the community’s desire to see immediate safety improvements on this section of road,” said Mayor Fred Haynes. “We heard you and we are taking action.”
There was a fatality of one person using the crosswalk near Merriman Drive back on the evening of December 6, 2021 (16-year-old Kaydence Bourque died), and a person was injured at that location last week (cyclist Paul O’Callaghan ion the afternoon of February 7). Road improvements were not publicly mentioned after the death in December, but the second recent incident has prompted a functional response.
Public Works crews will install:
- delineators on the centreline on either side of the crosswalk near Merriman Drive;
- a new street light overtop of the crosswalk;
- new rectangular rapid flashing beacons to replace round flashing beacons;
- new delineators along Cedar Hill Cross Road providing separation from the road and asphalt sidewalk;
- an advanced crosswalk ahead advisory sign; and
- “single file” advisory signs for cyclists in both approaches.
Work will also include tightening and normalizing the approaches of Merriman Drive and Jennifer Road with pavement markings and delineators.
In addition, Saanich Police will install a temporary speed reader board.
Single lane traffic disruptions will occur during the work.
Next steps
The Administrative Traffic Committee will discuss this segment of road and provide recommendations to continue working toward long-term improvements in this area.
A Council liaison and Engineering and Police staff make up this technical committee.
The District of Saanich says it remains committed to improving road safety across the District for all users.
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