Edmonton delays removal of Whyte Avenue scramble crosswalks until 2027

Pedestrians will continue to cross in every direction at several Whyte Avenue intersections for at least another year after the City of Edmonton delayed plans to remove its scramble crosswalks until 2027. The crossings, introduced in 2018 to improve pedestrian safety, were originally scheduled to be removed this summer as part of a project intended [...] The post Edmonton delays removal of Whyte Avenue scramble crosswalks until 2027 appeared first on CityNews Edmonton .

Pedestrians will continue to cross in every direction at several Whyte Avenue intersections for at least another year after the City of Edmonton delayed plans to remove its scramble crosswalks until 2027. The crossings, introduced in 2018 to improve pedestrian safety, were originally scheduled to be removed this summer as part of a project intended to improve traffic flow and transit reliability along the busy corridor. In a statement, Sam El Mothar, Edmonton’s transportation infrastructure delivery director, said the city postponed the project to improve construction planning.

“The decision to defer construction was made to enhance the efficiency of project delivery and minimize impacts during construction,” said Sam El Mothar, Edmonton’s transportation infrastructure delivery director. The announcement comes as thousands of people visit Whyte Avenue for the annual Art Walk, where the scramble crossings remain heavily used by pedestrians travelling between shops, restaurants and festival attractions. Reaction from pedestrians was mixed.

“I do think it’s good that they delayed it because I’d like to keep it,” said Hannah Rondeau, an Edmonton pedestrian. Others questioned whether removing the crossings should be a priority. “It kind of seems like a waste of time,” said Jay Campbell, an Edmonton pedestrian.

“We have better things to be worrying about. The roads themselves are in rough shape everywhere.” Some residents, however, supported the city’s original plan to prioritize transit.

“For the sake of the buses, I would rather have a fast bus and lose the scramble crossing than have the scramble crossing and have a slow BRT route,” said Ethan Welte, an Edmonton pedestrian. The city has said the all-pedestrian signal phase contributes to traffic delays and affects bus reliability along Whyte Avenue. Local businesses welcomed the decision to postpone construction.

“They should do their best to not block storefronts to ensure it’s still very accessible,” said Signe Yerxa, store manager and landlord at John Fluevog Shoes. “People need to know the stores are open and that they can still walk through.” The city said delaying the work will allow construction to be completed within a single season while minimizing disruption to businesses, residents and visitors.

No construction date has been announced. The city said project timelines and anticipated traffic impacts will be released once they are finalized. The post Edmonton delays removal of Whyte Avenue scramble crosswalks until 2027 appeared first on CityNews Edmonton .