St. John's considers 4-way red light on Topsail Road for pedestrian safety

St. John's city council is looking at a new way to make the crosswalks safer around the new Waterford Valley High School.

There has been a push from some councillors and members of the public to build a pedway over Topsail Road, between the school and the Village Mall.

• 'We've already suffered a tragedy,' says parent in favour of Topsail Road pedway
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• Councillor wants pedway over Topsail Road to protect students 

Coun. Danny Breen says an all-way red light at the intersection of Topsail and Columbus Drive could be a viable temporary solution, until council comes up with something more permanent.

The timed red light would allow pedestrians to cross safely, without any left-turning traffic trying to get through the intersection.

"We are just looking to staff to see if there is a way we can control lighting there so that all directions get a red light until the crossing is complete," he said.

"You would avoid the problem of cars having to make left-hand turns across the lanes, as well as putting some additional crosswalk markings in the centre to let people know that's happening."

Breen said ideally, the lights would turn red for about a minute or minute and a half, giving students enough time to cross safely.

However, Coun. Art Puddister said the lighting system on Topsail Road will probably need an upgrade before that can happen. 

"The technology probably doesn't exist on that controller, so we would have to purchase some new equipment," he said.

"It would only perhaps be at a certain time of the day, say 12:00 until 2:00."

There has been a push for safer pedestrian crossings on Topsail Road since a student was struck and killed by a vehicle there last February, and has increased since Waterford Valley High opened this month.

The city's police and traffic committee was set to meet Tuesday to discuss Breen's suggestion of the four-way stop light.

Breen told council Monday there needs to be some sort of temporary measure taken now, since it could take a while before a pedway or another permanent solution is completed.

"It's one of those things that we're going to have to wait for the staff report and see where we go from there," he said.

"Even if a pedway is built there eventually, it's not going to be done soon — so there needs to be some kind of solution there in the interim."