New path for Yellowknife Access Road
Territorial government urges pedestrians and cyclists not to walk on shoulder of highway
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Initial steps have been taken to make a stretch of highway safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Stewart Gibson, senior planner with the Department of Transportation, stands in front of the new pathway along the Yellowknife Access Road in front of the new Chateau Nova Hotel. Gibson is urging pedestrians and cyclists to use the new path, saying it is much safer than travelling on the shoulder of the roadway. - John McFadden/NNSL photo
|
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has now constructed a pathway, complete with florescent stakes in front of the Chateau Nova Hotel property on what is known as the Yellowknife Access Road.
The issue of pedestrian safety in that area was raised by Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne during the fall sitting of legislative assembly. He called for better delineation between vehicles and pedestrians from the intersection of 49 Avenue and 48 Street to the entrance of the Niven Gate subdivision.
Even though there are still stretches where walkers have to travel on the shoulder, Vanthuyne called the path a reasonable start toward making the road safer.
"I have not gone down there are walked on it just yet. I'm not sure that it's actually completed at this point," Vanthuyne said. "What was told to regular members during capital budget deliberations was that DOT would build the multi-use path . and that the city would maintain it. I'm not aware right now whether it is safe for use."
Vanthuyne said he still has concerns for people who walk between the Chateau Nova Hotel and downtown. There is no sidewalk along this stretch of road until 49 Avenue.
"There is still concern in my mind," Vanthuyne said. "Tourists often go from the hotel to the grocery store . if you are at Nova you still have to walk on the highway."
The MLA said he is not sure whether a pathway can be built from the four-way intersection to the Nova Hotel in the winter, all the more reason he said that there should be signage warning drivers that pedestrians are using the road. He is also concerned that plowed snow will make the shoulder even narrower and more slippery.
"It will be a challenge to keep it clean on a regular basis. It's one thing to clean just regular snowfall but if you are having to be out there with bigger equipment to remove snow that's been piled on there by DOT - that could be problematic in terms of the city having the resources and finances to do that," Vanthuyne said. "They'll figure it out. They agreed that the GNWT would be the funder of this path and the city would be the maintainer."
Vanthuyne said the plan to put an illuminated crosswalk across the highway at the entrance to the legislative assembly has been put on hold until at least the spring.
Stewart Gibson, senior planner with Department of Transportation, said the new pathway, which shares property with the department and Chateau Nova, could not have been constructed without the co-operation of the territorial government, the City of Yellowknife and Mike Mrdjenovich, owner of the Chateau Nova Hotel.
"This is a good news story," Gibson said. "Human nature being what it is, people take the shortest route. That involves walking down the highway which is unsafe for pedestrians and that shouldn't be done."
Gibson said come spring the path, which is currently made of loose gravel, will be compacted. He said come next summer, an illuminated crosswalk will be constructed from the entrance to the hotel to the entrance of the legislative assembly.
Gibson added there is also talk that the city will take over that stretch of road and build sidewalks on both sides from 49 Avenue to the legislative assembly driveway and the entrance to the hotel.
However, in an e-mail, mayor Mark Heyck said council has not provided any direction to the city to acquire any portion of that roadway, which is currently owned by the GNWT. He did confirm the city will be maintaining the new pathway.
Yellowknifer asked the city exactly how much has been budgeted to maintain the new trail. Grant White, the city's community services director, responded in an e-mail that maintenance of the new trail will be addressed utilizing existing staff and equipment resources.
