Contractors began construction on new pedestrian bridge, pathway and crosswalk aimed at connecting Scout Island and RC Cotton site trail networks and downtown Williams Lake this week.
The project will include extending the existing pathway underneath the Highway 20 bridge over Williams Creek to connect to a 140-foot pedestrian-only bridge going over Williams Creek to Mackenzie Avenue.
A new crosswalk has already been painted across Mackenzie Avenue, in order to complete the painting during warmer temperatures while the contractor was available, but it will not be open for use until more work is done.
Once completed, the crosswalk will be lit and signed, with both pedestrian-controlled lights and advance warning signs for approaching vehicles.
“I think it’s a fantastic addition to our community,” said Gary Muraca, chief administrative officer for the city, noting he even hopes it could lead to a further connection for those going down Highway 20.
While Muraca did say he has heard concerns from a citizen already, about the location of the crosswalk, he said it has been engineered and approved for the road as it is, meeting the standards for distance from intersections, etc.
Mackenzie Avenue has a posted speed limit of 50 km per hour in that area, and Muraca said the expectation is people are obeying the speed limit.
“It’s going to come down to how the vehicle traffic responds,” said Muraca, noting the finished crosswalk will resemble the one near Oliver Street and Mackenzie Avenue.
If required, he said they could look at other traffic-calming measures or advance warning lights for drivers.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of November with a total cost of around $750,000 with $550,000 of that coming from grant funding through the Province’s Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program.
Muraca said the project has been in development since 2021 and will be a great connection for people wanting to access Scout Island and the RC Cotton site from downtown.
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