City looks at building $535K bridge over Wentworth for trail users

It's been three years since a jogger on a populartrailwas hit and killed trying to cross Wentworth Street near a hairpin turn.

Now the city is looking at putting a pedestrian bridge there so people can cross more safely.

Hamilton's popular escarpment rail trail runs from Corktown in the lower city to Albion Falls on the Mountain. But following the trail requires crossing Wentworth Street and dodging traffic speeding down the Mountain.

It would be all smiles in Stinsonville.- Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor

In 2013, Zoe Nudell was killed there. The 33-year-old was jogging around 6:30 p.m. on a late Octoberday when a car hit her. The driver was convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Nudell had only lived in Hamilton about two weeks when she died.

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"She had a huge heart and took so much interest in everyone around her and relationship and her natural world," said her friend Rhiannon Wells.

The city's public works committee voted Monday to look at building a $535,000 pedestrian bridge there, potentially with flashing pedestrian crossings too. Coun. Sam Merulla of Ward 4 first brought it forward in 2014 after he was nearly hitthere.

The money would likely come from red light camera revenue, as well as Ward 2 area rating money from Coun. Jason Farr.

Some councillors wondered if a bridge rendered the lights unnecessary. Others wanted both.

Farr said either would please Stinson residents.

"A (pedestrian light) will go over like gang busters," Farr said. "A bridge will far surpass the euphoria residents would feel.

"It would be all smiles in Stinsonville."

Some localresidents wondered if the bridge was necessary too.

The bridge would have steps and a ramp to comply with accessibility laws, said Gary Moore, director of engineering.

City council has to ratify the decisiononJune 22. Then staff will report back by the end of the year.