The District of Saanich has announced upgrades will be coming to Cedar Hill Cross Road amid calls for safety improvements after a teen was struck and killed by a driver, and a cyclist was hit and injured in the timespan of two months.
The district says in a release that the improvements will begin Wednesday, and are expected to be complete by Feb. 18.
“This work is in response to the community’s desire to see immediate safety improvements on this section of road,” said Mayor Fred Haynes. “We heard you and we are taking action.”
The public works department will install centre-line delineators on either side of the crosswalk near Merriman Drive, and delineators along Cedar Hill Cross Road to separate the road from the asphalt sidewalk.
Rectangular rapid flashing beacons will replace the round flashing beacons and a new street light over the crosswalk will be installed.
Additional signage in the area will include an advanced crosswalk ahead advisory sign, and “single file” advisory signs for cyclists in both approaches.
Work will also include tightening and normalizing the approaches of Merriman Drive and Jennifer Road with pavement markings and delineators.
In addition, Saanich Police will install a temporary speed-reader board.
These changes come after 16-year-old Kaydence Bourque was struck and killed by a driver on Cedar Hill Cross Road in December while he was using the crosswalk, and after Paul O’Callaghan was struck by a driver in the same section while he was cycling last week.
O’Callaghan and community advocates called on the District of Saanich to make changes to the street to prevent further injury or death.
According to the ICBC crash map, there have been six crashes at Cedar Hill Cross Road at Merriman Drive and six at Cedar Hill Cross Road at Jennifer Road between 2016 to 2020.
Laura Brougham
