Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 17/02) - A parent and day home operator is worried that a child or adult may be seriously injured at a crosswalk on Old Airport Road.

Leona Callahan says the blind turn linking Franklin Avenue to Old Airport Road is a dangerous location for a crosswalk, especially since cars frequently round the turn at high speeds.

"Let's just say this - from walking that area, I've crossed there and bylaw have whipped by me, let alone anyone else!

"I've had to step back onto the sidewalk," she said.

Callahan often walks in that area with her children. She said after the bylaw vehicle nearly hit her last winter, she called the city to make a complaint.

"They told me 'you need to know the number of the car' and blah, blah, blah. He was going too fast to get the number.

"I called bylaw to voice my opinion on that crosswalk but they didn't seem to care," she said.

When contacted, bylaw said it would look into the complaint.

Callahan said she doesn't believe there should be a crosswalk on a blind turn.

"Especially since so many new people come to this town and don't know, then they're driving along and someone steps out in the road and ...

"People just zoom around that corner like crazy," she said.

Callahan believes the crosswalk should be moved up a few feet, away from the turn.

But City Coun. Robert Hawkins said the city has budgeted for a flashing light near that crosswalk.

As far as he knows, the light will be installed this summer.

"It's going to be done this summer, unless of course for some reason it's not being done because of set timing, but it will be done this year," he said.

He said the issue came before council a year ago and all councillors agreed something should be done.

"I mean they (city crews) are all over the place. They're trying to do it all at once," said Hawkins, referring to road maintenance work in the city.

Dennis Kesalas, manager of public works, says the city is looking at installing a flashing light and additional signage near the crosswalk.

"We're looking at stuff that will draw the attention of the drivers as they are rounding the corner," said Kesalas.

The city is hoping to have the additional signage and flashing light installed by the time school begins in September, said Kesalas.