New pedestrian crossing lights for Pier Street are on the way.
Council directed city staff at a meeting on Nov. 8 to install solar-powered pedestrian crossing lights at two Highway 19A crosswalks. One at the fishing pier and one near Robert Ostler Park (next to Quay West Restaurant) and Ridgerider.
Ron Neufeld, the city’s manager of operations, told council last week he expects the lights to go in soon.
“I expect the install to be completed within a couple of weeks but it simply depends on delivery of the products,” Neufeld said. “Parts have been ordered and our contractor is in place to complete the install when all parts are in hand.”
The lights will be similar to ones already in place on Dogwood Street at the Pinecrest and Robron crosswalks.
Neufeld said each light will cost $16,000 which will come out of the city’s gaming reserve.
Council had already approved $23,372 in funding during March’s financial deliberations for what city staff described as ‘Pier Street Traffic Control.’ However that amount is not enough to cover both Pier Street crosswalks.
Andy Adams, who made the original motion to fund the two crossing lights, said if there was not enough funding for both, then he would like to see the crosswalk closer to Robert Ostler dealt with first.
“The number of near misses I’ve seen near Ridgerider, of people trying to cross to Robert Ostler Park, is too many for my liking,” Adams said at the Nov. 8 meeting.
Neufeld confirmed last week that the Ridgerider crosswalk is the only crossing being dealt with at the moment.
Mayor Charlie Cornfield said he thought the funding council had approved back in March was for the crosswalk and entrance to the fishing pier and Maritime Heritage Centre parking lot.
“I’m a little bit disappointed, I thought the entrance to the pier parking lot was going to be improved,” Cornfield said at last week’s council meeting.