Roundabout safety changes underway in Waterloo Region

Work has begun to install new pedestrian and cyclist protections at three roundabouts in Waterloo Region. CTV’s Colton Wiens explains the changes.

A Region of Waterloo pilot program aimed at protecting pedestrians and cyclists crossing busy traffic circles is officially underway.

New safety measures are being installed at select roundabouts in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.

Those measures include button-activated flashing lights and raised crosswalks.

In Waterloo, the features are being added to the Erb Street West and Ira Needles Boulevard roundabout. Construction started this week and is expected to wrap up on Sept. 12.

“I feel it’s pretty safe. Just some other people, they don’t know how to use these roundabouts,” pedestrian Jason Truman said while standing near the Erb Street West and Ira Needles Boulevard roundabout in Waterloo. “It’s very dangerous at times because, sometimes there’s been hit-and-runs at this intersection.”

Truman hopes the changes will make a difference.

“I think it would make it a lot safer because with the flashing lights, drivers be able to see there was a pedestrian crossing,” Truman said.

Flashing lights are being installed at the roundabout at Franklin Boulevard and Bishop Street North in Cambridge. That work started this week and should be finished by Aug. 29.

Meanwhile, raised crosswalks are being installed at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road in Kitchener. That work started last month and should end in September.

“I think it’s safer because they’re driving slowly, so it’s better for me, especially because I’m pregnant and I have a little boy with me all the time,” Priscilla Silva, a pedestrian at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road in Kitchener, said.

Some of the crosswalks at the roundabouts are closed while concrete work is underway, but there are other crosswalks that are still open to allow pedestrians to get across. Pedestrians said it’s worth the hassle for new safety measures.

“I will feel safer, because every day I just cross, I just live across the road,” Rishi Jasu, a pedestrian at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road in Kitchener, said.

The three locations were chosen based on pedestrian volumes, collision history, the presence of multiple lanes and geographic distribution.

Traffic is down to one lane during construction and while some pedestrians have still used the closed crosswalks, the region urged pedestrians to follow the signage.

A survey will be launched sometime next month where residents will be asked to share their opinions on how the changes are working.