Delta’s engineering department wants feedback on proposed traffic calming measures from residents living in the area of 53A Street and 16th Avenue in Tsawwassen.
Residents near the intersection have raised safety concerns, saying they’ve witnessed or heard several collisions including one recently where a vehicle ended up on a retaining wall in the front yard of a home.
They’ve been lobbying for safety improvements, including better lighting, a stop sign and a marked crosswalk.
Director of engineering Steven Lan was to have brought forward a report with recommendations to Delta council last month but asked to withdraw that report to allow more time to consult with residents.
The department recently mailed out a series of proposed improvements.
Those measures include a raised right turn median island that would require northbound vehicles to come to a complete stop prior to proceeding through the intersection. In conjunction with the raised median island, marked pedestrian crosswalks are proposed across 16th Avenue.
Also, a green painted bike box would provide a separate staging area to safely accommodate cyclists proceeding northbound through the intersection.
There would also be additional street lighting to provide better visibility through the intersection as well as a pedestrian-activated crosswalk with flashing beacons on 53A Street at Upland Drive. A sidewalk is proposed on the east side of 53A Street, between Upland Drive and 16th Avenue, to connect to the existing sidewalk network.
“There’s been a mail-out on what the ultimate configuration would look like. We wanted to seek commentary from the area residents and once we get that feedback we’ll go back to council,” Lan told the Optimist this week.
He added a roadside concrete barrier has been installed “as an initial protection measure.”
The deadline to return the survey is Friday, Jan. 25.
