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Safety measures on Langley Ave. start with tree bulldozing

Langley Ave. is undergoing a construction project designed to increase safety
1507 Trees ab 2
DeFord Contracting is supplying materials and equipment to upgrade the shoulder of Langley Ave. across Ronald Harvey School. ANNA BOROWIECKI/St. Albert Gazette

Several blocks of trees and bushes were razed to the ground last week on Langley Ave. as part of a road design to create a safer environment for pedestrians and drivers.

Although a few residents were initially upset watching the greenery bulldozed, most were in favour.

Ian Skogstad, who has lived at the corner of Lester Crescent and Langley Ave. for 47 years, explained the massive poplars and wild rose bushes were from the original farmstead’s arboreal forest.

“The trees were ready to fall. When they took them down, they were quite close to being rotten. Every time we had a windstorm, I’d look and hope my car wasn’t hit,” said Skogstad.

Heather McKinnon, a homeowner at the T-intersection between Larkspur Crescent and Langley, stated her family contacted the City of St. Albert seven years ago to trim the landscape.

“After all this time, we were shocked they were taking all of them down in the boulevard,” McKinnon said. “But I gave it the thumbs up. When we would drive from Larkspur, we’d have to get out in the middle of the street (Langley) to turn because the bushes were so high.”

Langley runs directly in front of Ronald Harvey Elementary School and is widely used by motor vehicles, bicycles and as a major drop-off/pick-up point for students.

The overhaul is part of the city’s Safe Journeys to Schools initiative, a strategy designed to retrofit existing school zone crosswalks, drop-off zones and bus bays. Additional measures also include school zone traffic calming and signage upgrades.

The city hosted an open house meeting in 2019 at Ronald Harvey School to hear concerns from stakeholders. Residents relayed several issues: traffic congestion, lack of a safe drop-off and pick-up point for school children, pedestrian safety, limited sidewalk connections and poor visibility.

Ronald Harvey is located on the east side of Langley, and City of St. Albert Transportation Manager Dean Schick explained it has a safe bus lane for daily drop-offs and pickups. However, family drop-offs on the west side pose safety hazards.

The slight slope of land and shrubbery prevents vehicle doors from opening on the passenger side. Children would then open the roadside door and hop out.

“There was a lot of jaywalking,” Schick said.

The plan includes leveling a portion of the west slope and building a sidewalk next to the curb. Additional crosswalks will be aligned to the front of the school.

“There will be flashing crosswalk lights. There won’t be speed bumps, but warning flashers will indicate approaches and driver feedback signs will flash if you exceed the speed level.”

Once construction is complete, a mix of aesthetically pleasing grass, shrubs and trees will be replanted along the boulevard.

“We are providing a landscape that is more open. We do have concerns about the natural area and overgrowth. We want to match the general appearance, but one that is sustainable for management,” Schick added.

DeFord Contracting from Edmonton is supplying full delivery of the $480,000 project. The contract also covers a smaller sidewalk retrofit at Leo Nickerson Elementary School. The budget allows for contractor time, construction activity, supplies and materials, equipment, traffic control and labour.

The company is following an aggressive schedule and is due for completion on Aug. 15 before the 2020-21 school season starts.

McKinnon applauded the reconstruction. “When it’s done, I’m sure it will be beautiful.”

Schick encourages residents to visit the City of St. Albert’s Safe Journeys to School website at stalbert.ca/home/community/schools/safe-journeys/. A list of project plans and illustrations are available.


Anna Borowiecki

About the Author: Anna Borowiecki

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