The Town of Bonnyville decided to move forward with a trail to ensure pedestrians will have a safer option while walking along 50 Ave.
The municipality will be constructing a trail along the north-side of 50 Ave. between the 7-Eleven and the Centennial Centre.
The project is expected to come in under $300,000, and council agreed to cover the cost from surplus or reallocating existing capital budget funds.
During their regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, Coun. Rene Van Brabant suggested doing it in two parts.
“We could do the first trail with gravel in the first year, and then pave it later on,” he recommended.
Assistant CAO Bill Rogers noted the estimate could be cheaper once concrete numbers are available.
“The $300,000 estimate actually includes all the way up the front of the C2, down to the corner of Hwy. 28. We wouldn’t have to do that part because it’s already paved... We’ve asked our engineers to back it off a little on their estimates, and we think it would come in at under the $300,000, because we would shorten that last part.”
Coun. Elisa Brosseau addressed the need for a safe way for pedestrians to get from one side to the other.
“My only concern would be when people would want to cross from the north-side to come over to the south-side,” she said.
Mayor Gene Sobolewski agreed, “At some point in time, because of the state of the traffic... we’re probably going to need a controlled crosswalk or something like that.”
A crosswalk similar to the pedestrian walkway located near the C2 has been included in the estimate.
Coun. Chad Colbourne originally brought the subject to council during their Jan. 22 meeting. He also expressed apprehension regarding the speed limit increase along 50 Ave. and suggested the town request the province lower it to 50 kilometres per hour from the 70 kilometres it’s currently at.
While the construction and maintenance of a trail would be a town undertaking, Sobolewski said a request would need to be submitted to the province due to it being along Hwy. 28.
Although there are other projects on town’s to-do list, they agreed the pathway along 50 Ave. should be added due to the points raised.
“It’s a safety issue as more people are using it, and I’d like to see it come to the top of our list of projects,” Brosseau stressed.
It will require a roadside permit from the province, but Rogers doesn’t foresee any problems that could arise in getting approval. Administration will add changes to the sidewalk in the plan to address concerns raised to ensure drivers will stop for pedestrians crossing the road.
