Division Avenue rehabilitation project continues to take shape

John Ashton, planning engineer with the city, said safety for traffic, pedestrians and cyclists is being promoted with this complete streets design.

“We’re trying to promote a facility here in the Hat that captures all three,” Ashton said.

“Narrow roads promote slower speeds, we’re reducing crossing distances for pedestrians with these side streets. We have an elevated crossing to help with traffic calming as you’re approaching Division Avenue and turning onto the road,” he added.

“All of which go into the guise of multimodal transportation and safety.”

The Red Brick separating the sidewalks from the roadways stands out with the complete streets design. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

Ashton said they have received mixed feedback so far on the project.

“There’s support and there’s people that are concerned with the narrowness of the road and how vehicles are going to navigate the turns, but in all, it’s been a positive change for the city,” Ashton said.

The section from Fourth Street up to Sixth Street is expected to be open by Sunday pending weather.

Allison Dreher, the owner of Annie McGuire Interiors, at the corner of division and 5th street south east, has been dealing with the detours for a while now and is happy to hear this.

“The improvements are going to be absolutely fantastic,” Dreher said.

“The work needed to be done, it’s super important to always make sure that you’re looking after your streets and your infrastructure before something happens,” she added.

“I think it’s really great that the work is being done.”

Dreher added that it’s a high traffic area especially from 3 p.m. on during the week with schools in the area.

“I do feel that oftentimes that the speed could be slowed down a little bit because there’s so many young children that are crossing the street and riding their bikes,” Dreher said.

“I think that’s going to be very positive for this street for sure.”

Ashton said that when their team of engineers did the design, they took into account particular vehicles going through the area.

“Vehicles such as garbage trucks and emergency vehicles, making sure that they can navigate these narrower intersections,” Ashton said.

“We’ve also been in talks with Southland Transportation on school bus routes, which we have four schools in this area, want to make sure that they can safely get through the turns,” he added.

“We’re in communication with those guys from Southland as well as City Transit to make sure that everybody can use the facility that we’re building here today.”

Ashton adds the new curbside appeal looks wonderful, and they will continue to take public feedback on functionality, with construction completed near the end of October.

by Jesse Gill

Division Avenue rehabilitation project continues to take shape

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