Pedestrians and cyclists in the community of Port Alberni will find improved safety conditions with the upgrade of the Highway 4 crosswalk at Helen Street to a fully signalized intersection.

“The ministry has worked closely with local government leaders who identified this project as a priority to enhance community safety,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “Replacing the pedestrian-controlled crosswalk with a full signal will help ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians accessing the Alberni Elementary school as well as nearby businesses and community services.”

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure conducted traffic counts and engineering analysis that showed that a traffic signal was warranted to improve safety and operations at this intersection.

“We’re pleased to partner on this project to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety in Port Alberni,” said Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s director responsible for road safety. “About 70 per cent of crashes involving pedestrians happen at intersections so anything we can do to make intersections safer is a good investment. It’s also important for everyone to stay focused on what’s going on around them. We all need to do our part to avoid crashes and help reduce claims costs and the substantial pressure on insurance rates.”

Raylec Power LP of Nanaimo, the ministry’s electrical contractor, is scheduled to begin work in late January and is expected to finish by the end of March 2017. Total project cost is estimated at $225,000, with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia contributing $29,000.

“This project directly links to our efforts to enhance safety, infrastructure and aesthetics along our major transportation corridors,” said Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan. “This is a much-needed improvement and I want to thank our provincial government partners for investing in this critical transportation infrastructure.”  

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Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at: http://www.tranbc.ca