By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
Mount Pearl’s much anticipated new pedestrian crosswalk where the T’Railway crosses Commonwealth Avenue should be open soon.
Councillor Bill Antle said at the August 18 regular meeting that he gets asked about the crossing a lot and wanted to clarify whether it would be done by September 1.
“Hopefully we’ll have that opened up in the next couple weeks,” replied councillor Mark Rice as part of the public works report, where he indicated the project was 85 per cent complete.
The project includes a user-activated traffic signal that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to trigger a stop for traffic, a trail realignment slightly to the south to ensure it’s perpendicular to the roadway to improve sightlines, a raised median island in the centre of Commonwealth Avenue to help reduce vehicle speeds and providing a midway ‘refuge’ for pedestrians.
Vehicles heading in the outside lane on Commonwealth Avenue will be able to continue straight through the intersection at Park Avenue and Ruth Avenue. Westbound traffic on Ruth Avenue turning right onto Commonwealth will have to stop before entering the roadway, rather than yield.
The City has advised that some of the final components, including signal pole installation and pavement markings, will require temporary lane restrictions on Commonwealth in the coming weeks.
The City also announced a $60,000 grant from the Trans Canada Trail Association this past week, though that does not represent new money as the grant was included in the project budget of $317,500. Council awarded the construction contract to Dexter Construction back in 2025 at a cost of $298,418, HST included.
Construction started in 2025 and resumed this past June. When complete, it will create a connection across one of Mount Pearl's busiest roads, with 60 per cent of users crossing at this point.
The project includes a user-activated traffic signal that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to trigger a stop for traffic, a trail realignment slightly to the south to ensure it’s perpendicular to the roadway to improve sightlines, a raised median island in the centre of Commonwealth Avenue to help reduce vehicle speeds and providing a midway ‘refuge’ for pedestrians.