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Sudbury's first bike, pedestrian crossing yields safe access to Junction Creek trail

Rainbow Routes Association officially opens new crosswalk on Regent Street

Thanks to a new crosswalk on Regent Street, cyclists and pedestrians can now enjoy the Junction Creek Waterway Park without having to dodge heavy traffic. 

On Jan. 23, Rainbow Routes Association officially opened the new crosswalk where Regent meets Junction Creek, near Wembley Drive.

Rainbow Routes Association executive director Daniel Barrette said the project has been in the works for about seven years and was a major safety concern.

Prior to the new crossing, those using the trail had to walk along Regent Street and cross at the McLeod or Riverside intersection to safely access the trail on the opposite side.

"It took away from the trail experience and from the unique route that we have," Barrette said.

Which is why many trail users like Ursula Sauve, a member of The Cycling Grannies, a group of older adults who meet twice a week to cycle around the city, would take chances crossing the four lanes of traffic on Regent Street.

"This was always so dangerous," Sauve said. "We always took a chance crossing and I was always worried that one of us would get hit.

"This is a wonderful connection. I think it will encourage many people to cycle more and walk."

The crosswalk features two push buttons: a longer light for pedestrians and a shorter one for cyclists, a first for Greater Sudbury.

"The city engineers and staff tried to minimize the disturbance to vehicle and traffic," Barrette said.

"If you are on a bike or are walking fast with just a couple of people, you can push the bicycle button to reduce the length of the red light for vehicles."

The crosswalk not only serves those who enjoy the trail but provides safer passage for students at nearby schools, connects the Greater Sudbury Utilities parking lot to the GSU building, and New Sudbury residents to businesses on Kelly Lake Road.

For more information on the Junction Creek Waterway Park visit rainbowroutes.com.


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Heather Green-Oliver

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