Safety questions remain at crossing

“We need that flashing light back at Carney and third and we would also appreciate if you put a radar on it so that you could nail these guys that go 80 miles down Carney Street. It’s just really horrible.”

McDonald says excessive speed is a common sight along the corridor, with some drivers appearing to ignore the presence of pedestrians attempting to cross the roadway.

Residents also point to visibility issues around the intersection. Large bushes and trees can limit sightlines for both drivers and pedestrians, while some traffic signs can be difficult to see because of surrounding obstructions. They argue those challenges have become more noticeable since the flashing beacon was removed.

McDonald says she has witnessed numerous collisions in the area and continues to worry about conditions at the crossing.

“The amount of accidents I’ve seen and witnessed. I sit in my chair and hear the horrible crash and screech. So they got to know that they got to do something about it.”

She says concerns extend beyond vehicle crashes and include the safety of people using the crosswalk. McDonald recalled a recent incident involving a friend who was crossing the street with her dogs.

“My friend was walking her dogs and she went to the crosswalk, and the guy wasn’t going to stop for her. She had to grab her dogs and run, that kind of thing happens, and it just seems they don’t care if somebody is in the crosswalk.”

The City of Prince George provided the following statement regarding the crossing:

“The old infrastructure came to its end of service life, and the previous beacon/sign did not warrant being replaced as it did not meet current pedestrian crossing standards. National guidelines for pedestrian crossings have been updated, and crosswalks throughout the City are under review as part of this change. A pedestrian crossing strategy was prepared in 2020 to identify and upgrade pedestrian crossings over the next 10 years based on 12 criteria. As presented in the strategy, the Carney St. and 3rd Ave. crosswalk was not identified for upgrade. However, the crossing will continue to be monitored and reviewed for possible future improvements. If pedestrians witness motorists failing to yield to pedestrians or speeding, please they are asked to contact the RCMP non-emergency line with details of the vehicle and driver.”

The city’s response indicates that the decision not to replace the beacon was based on updated national standards and the findings of a long-term pedestrian crossing strategy adopted in 2020. That strategy reviews crossings across Prince George and prioritizes potential upgrades based on a number of established criteria.

For residents living near Carney Street and 3rd Avenue, however, the intersection remains a source of ongoing concern. While city officials say the crossing will continue to be monitored, neighbours hope that additional safety measures will be considered before another serious collision or pedestrian incident occurs.

For now, they continue to advocate for improvements ranging from a restored flashing beacon to enhanced enforcement measures aimed at reducing speeding and improving driver awareness at one of the neighbourhood’s busiest crossings.

by Nick Dube

Safety questions remain at crossing

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