The crosswalk on Boudreau Road by the Sturgeon Hospital is set to be removed in the coming weeks.
The mid-block marked pedestrian crossing will be re-paved while other roadwork is being done in the area, said David Hales, the city’s general manager of planning and engineering, in an email to the Gazette.
Sight line issues on the curve, traffic volumes and speed are some of the reasons for the crosswalk’s removal, cited Hales.
“Since there are engineered and controlled crossings less than 100 (metres) away from this location we believe discouraging the odd mid-block crossing improves safety for the pedestrians,” explained Hales.
An 85-year-old woman was struck and killed while walking in the marked crosswalk by the hospital in October 2013.
Following ongoing inspections by city staff, higher visibility signs and prominent road markings were installed to increase the visibility of the crosswalk, said Hales.
Removal of an existing crossing is viewed as a last resort as it inconveniences users, noted Hales, but mid-block pedestrian crossings on a curve are unusual, especially when there are controlled crossings so close by.
Hales suspects the original intent was to provide a direct route for pedestrians between the hospital and professional centre.
Road crews should be working on Boudreau in the hospital neighbourhood during the week of July 21, depending on weather and the completion of other projects.
Signs will be installed to direct pedestrians to use either the St. Albert Trail or Erin Ridge Drive signalized road crossings.
