Councillor Kavanagh bikes to City Hall from Bay Ward every day. She is happy to report that the city is implementing interim safety improvements to Laurier Avenue.
Work will begin this week on Laurier Avenue West between the Laurier Avenue Bridge and Elgin Street to provide interim safety improvements for westbound cyclists.
Improvements include:
- a new stop sign where the Queen Elizabeth Drive (QED) ramp meets Laurier Avenue West
- a new bike lane on the QED ramp
- new flex stakes along the Laurier Avenue westbound bike lane
- the installation of pin curbs to prevent vehicles coming off of QED from going directly to the Elgin Street right turn lane. These vehicles will first need to merge onto Laurier.
- the installation of a bike signal installed at the crosswalk at City Hall (westbound direction)
- adding green thermoplastic pavement markings to identify conflict areas
These changes will result in new traffic patterns in the westbound direction and will reduce the length of the conflict area where vehicle weave manoeuvres occur across the westbound bike lane until a permanent solution is installed. The interim changes will require both motorists and cyclists to work together and to be aware of the new traffic control measures that will be in place.
Road users should expect delays through the corridor and the work is anticipated to be completed by the end of August. Funding for the detailed design and engineering of a permanent solution will be brought forward as part of the 2020 Draft Budget.
