Pedestrian Crossover set for Wyandotte Street
Intersection of Wyandotte Street and Chilver Road site of numerous incidents
When a long-desired Walkerville pedestrian crossover is finally installed in the next 30 to 45 days, it will be the first of its kind in Windsor, with more likely on the way. “All in all it’s a great news story,” Ward 4 Coun. Chris Holt said Thursday after announcing the crossover at Wyandotte Street and Chilver Road he has lobbied for since he was elected in 2014 — the subject of a recent 800-name petition — would finally become a reality.
The location has been the site of at least one fatality, several struck pedestrians and numerous close calls. Despite the fact there are traffic lights two blocks to the east and west, pedestrians continually opt to take the shortest route across busy Wyandotte Street. “Now pedestrians can cross safely to all the businesses and restaurants on either side of Wyandotte, and the residents, now they have safe access to the waterfront,” Holt said.
After a couple of failed attempts to get it approved at budget time, Holt opted in February to pay for it out of his ward funds. But the project was still in danger of being rejected because traffic volumes and patterns didn’t meet the requirements laid out by provincial guidelines.
The guidelines were recently updated, however, so council approved the project conditional on meeting the new guidelines. The updated guidelines take into account the “desired path for pedestrians,” explained Windsor deputy city engineer Dwayne Dawson. And clearly Wyandotte/ Chilver is where people are going to cross — light or no light. “It’s going to be great for safety and just for walkability and livability in the neighbourhood,” he said. Dawson said city staff are moving ahead with the crossover, with the expectation it will be installed within 30 to 45 days.
The illuminated pedestrian crossover will be the first of its kind in Windsor. Instead of traditional traffic lights, it will feature a button pedestrians can push to activate flashing lights and audible signals, requiring motorists in both directions to stop. A similar one was erected last year by the county where a new recreational path crosses Walker Road. “We’re likely going to see more of these popping up throughout the city,” said Dawson, explaining the city is studying whether previously requested crossovers meet the updated guidelines.
These are locations where pedestrians tend to cross without traffic lights, to get to where they’re going. They include Rhodes Drive at the Jamieson Laboratories property, Goyeau Street by the Food Basics store, and two sites used frequently by University of Windsor students: University Avenue at
Now pedestrians can cross safely to all the businesses and restaurants on either side of Wyandotte.
Patricia Road and College Avenue at the St. Denis Centre. These crossovers cost about $35,000 each, half what a crossing with traffic lights cost. New legislation that went into effect two years ago requires motorists to stop and yield the entire roadway at pedestrian crossovers as well as at school crossings and other places with a crossing guard.
Dawson said once the new crossover is installed on Wyandotte, the city will likely initiate a campaign to educate pedestrians and motorists on the rules and how to use it.