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The B.C. authorities will quickly current design plans for a pedestrian bridge over a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Freeway (Freeway 1) in North Cowichan, simply north of Duncan, the place officers hope to discourage individuals from unsafely crossing the highway.
The North Cowichan Active Transportation Overpass goals to extend security throughout Freeway 1 between Beverly Road and James Road/York Street in North Cowichan, in accordance with the province. It says the overpass “will enable individuals to soundly cross the freeway between two intersections, that are 700 metres aside.”
The province, in a information launch Thursday, says an estimated 30 per cent of all foot crossings on this part of the freeway are unsafe regardless of the present signage limiting pedestrian entry.
Rob Douglas, mayor of the Municipality of North Cowichan, says the venture aligns with the Trans-Canada Freeway Hall Administration Plan, which dates again greater than a decade.
“It was a joint plan adopted by North Cowichan and the Metropolis of Duncan with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It’s a venture we’ve been discussing for a variety of years now, and I’m glad to see there’s some progress on it,” Douglas advised CHEK Information.
“It seems to be prefer it’s going to be transferring forward fairly quickly.”
A bit of Freeway 1 about three kilometres (3,000 metres) south of the place the proposed overpass would go sees a median of greater than 36,000 autos passing by every day, according to 2021 data from B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
And native foot site visitors is on the rise.
“When the brand new Quw’utsun Secondary Faculty opens, the variety of individuals crossing the freeway to achieve eating places and companies is anticipated to develop,” the province mentioned within the launch.
The Cowichan School District says development on the brand new college is anticipated to wrap up someday this spring. As soon as the varsity opens within the fall, it is going to be capable of home about 1,100 college students, and if further lecture rooms are added, it is going to have the capability for 1,500 college students.
The college is positioned on the west facet of the freeway adjoining to Vancouver Island College.
“There are considerations about security with the highschool college students crossing the freeway there to get to a number of the eating places on the east facet. I graduated from Cowichan Excessive, and I used to be a kind of youngsters who was dangerously crossing the freeway to get to the eating places,” recalled Douglas.
“The overpass goes to deal with a few of these security considerations,” he mentioned, whereas the province provides the bridge will accommodate individuals strolling and rolling.
“The proposed new overpass will help individuals travelling by foot, bicycle, wheelchair or scooter. Adjustments to turning lanes will assist keep the circulate of site visitors alongside the freeway by decreasing vehicle-turning conflicts,” it mentioned within the assertion.
“New curbs will improve the visibility of pedestrian pathways and crossings whereas serving to drivers extra simply determine business-access places.”
Douglas says the municipality is placing extra deal with energetic transportation, and the overpass “actually matches with that, and it’s going to profit college students and in addition residents throughout North Cowichan and Duncan who need to make their means throughout the freeway and achieve this safely.”
Public data session
An data session in regards to the deliberate overpass is scheduled for Feb. 7 from 4-7 p.m. on the Quamichan Faculty multipurpose room (2515 Beverly St.), and the province says all are welcome to attend. “Ministry employees will present an outline of the proposed design and reply questions…”
It says individuals will have the ability to share their suggestions on the venture.
“Wanting ahead to listening to what native residents consider the plans,” added Douglas.
Individuals unable to attend the session can view the venture supplies on-line here beginning Feb. 7. For extra details about the venture, e mail [email protected].
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