New direction
A confusing intersection in downtown St. John’s is getting an upgrade, and people are thrilled about it
Residents like initial plan to implement one-way streets
Maaike Charron has been working with the Newfoundland Craft Council for several years, and says she’s definitely seen her fair share of people making some not-so-bright moves in a contentious nearby intersection.
The Y-shaped split road has been an issue for businesses and residents in the area for quite a while.
“Like that,” Charron said, gesturing to a car blowing through a yield sign in the intersection, just outside of the Craft Council’s windows. “That’s not the way to do that. So yeah, I think it’s safe to say that the change will make life easier for people.”
On Wednesday, the City of St. John’s announced a pilot project to turn part of Duckworth Street, between Cavendish Square and Quidi Vidi Road, into a one-way flow of traffic that will move toward Signal Hill. Plymouth Road is also to become a one-way, as well as a section of Quidi Vidi Road. Between Duckworth and Plymouth, traffic will only be permitted to flow toward Quidi Vidi Village, and on Plymouth Road traffic will move toward downtown. Cook’s Hill will be recognized as a turnaround spot, and part of Duckworth and Plymouth will be converted into one as well.
The project is only temporary, allowing the city time to see if the one-way roads are a plausible solution to the confusing area. It will be implemented Sept. 5-6, and removed in mid-autumn, before the snowy Newfoundland winter strikes.
The city will circulate a survey toward the end of the
project, giving residents and businesses in the area a chance to give their input on the intersection changes, and whether
or not they should stick.
“On one hand, having a confusing intersection makes people approach it more cautiously, I think,” Charron told The Telegram. “But that’s no reason not to simplify it and make it safer for everyone.”
Robert Salsman, the owner of the Battery Café in St. John’s, started a petition online in 2016 to have some kind of improvement made to the complicated area. On the petition, he stated, “the situation is dangerous, and it’s only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed.”
“This intersection is crazy, crazy dangerous, especially for people walking in the area or trying to get here to the café,” Salsman told The Telegram on Thursday. “They did put in crosswalks a few years back. They never used to be there … but that still wasn’t enough. Hopefully, this will be.”
The new direction of traffic will literally drive people away from the café, Salsman said, but the slower business is worth it if it will guarantee a safer area for everyone.
“They’ll come down the street and see us, but won’t be able to get to us because they’ll have to carry on the other way.
“With that being said, it’s going to be a much safer intersection, for pedestrians especially. I think people even avoid coming down this way because the intersection creates so much traffic and confusion,” Salsman said.
“We see so many close calls here every day, and there’s almost always someone honking or yelling at someone else. … It’s long overdue, but I’m glad to see them doing something about it.”
Agnes and David Locke lived on Quidi Vidi Road for several years, only having moved from the area last month to be closer to family. David said this is the best possible solution the city could have found.
“I would sit and watch the cars driving by for hours,” David told The Telegram. “Every time someone did something that they shouldn’t have, which was easily nine out of every 10 cars, I’d call out to Aggy and she’d tally it.”
“We made a game out of it,” Agnes chuckled, “but that still doesn’t take away the seriousness of the situation. Someone would’ve been killed there eventually, I’m certain of it.
“I used to be so fearful having the grandkids over outside. … Some people just really don’t pay attention there, and stupidity isn’t something that can be fixed easily. But thank goodness something is being done down there. Thank goodness.”