Some of metro’s most dangerous crosswalks will soon be safer to cross.
Eye-level amber lights will be installed at five intersections, including the Bedford Highway at Mount Saint Vincent University, where students have lobbied for years to get a set of traffic lights.
Amber lights that are larger, brighter and have signals that can be reactivated will also be installed across the province.
“That will catch a driver’s attention a lot quicker,” Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott said yesterday.
The province announced the decision yesterday with the release of a task force report aimed at making crosswalks safer.
The province also announced it will provide an initial $300,000 for cost-shared projects with municipalities to improve crosswalks.
Fourth-year Mount student Shalen Hutchings was hit by a truck while crossing in January, leaving him with two broken bones in his leg.
“While ideally there would be some set of full lights, any step that they take at this point is going to help,” said Hutchings, who still uses a cane to walk.
The Joint Crosswalk Safety Task Force — created last spring with the city, police and various government departments — made 42 recommendations in education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation.
