By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Not enough pedestrians yet for “scramble corner,” city says

Jun 13, 2018 | 12:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE – As the city prepares to begin work next year on the 3 Avenue reconstruction project, one component of the proposal will not go ahead.

One of the concepts shown at an open house last year was a “scramble corner” at 3 Avenue and 5 Street. Signals stop traffic in all four directions to allow pedestrians to cross any way, including diagonally. Craig Richter, the senior project administrator, told Lethbridge News Now the city will not implement it as part of this project.

“When you have a very low pedestrian volume, now that means that all four directions of traffic are stopped for what could be one or two pedestrians, even. So that leads to some operational inefficiencies, and could be some compliance issues or driver frustration, things of that nature,” Richter said.

“So, what we decided when we looked at this, you know, downtown Toronto or even Calgary or somewhere like that, it might be a bit more beneficial. But at this particular intersection, now is just not the time for it.”

That doesn’t mean the idea is going away. Richter explained the city may take another look when it implements a similar project on 5 Street later on. It will depend on how successful the 3 Avenue reconstruction is at attracting more pedestrians. Curb extensions, or “bulb-outs,” are being added to intersections.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

Week-in-review: Street sweeping, policing in Coaldale and #SlowYourRoll

Apr 13, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 12, 2024

Apr 12, 2024

“Right now, with it being a four-lane road across 3 Avenue, and parking, pedestrians are having to cross at least four lanes of travel. Now that we’re taking it down to three lanes, so a single lane in each direction with a dual-left turning lane in the centre, now pedestrians only need to cross three lanes of traffic,” he said.

Other new features include trees, planters, and benches. On-street parking will be at sidewalk-level, separated by bollards, to allow for other uses such as patios. Richter said the remaining three lanes will still be sufficient for 3 Avenue traffic.

While the goal is to begin work in spring 2019, they’re still working on the design. Complications include things like old streetcar tracks that are still under the pavement.