Councillor wants pedway over Topsail Road to protect students

A St. John's City Councillor wants to see a pedway built near a new school on Topsail Road.

Coun. Art Puddister has been pushing for askywalk between the new Waterford Valley High and the Village Mall since a student was hit and killed on the busy section of road last February.

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"That tragedy was a lightning rod that sort of awakened everybody, particularly the parents," said Puddister.

With classes starting at the new school this month, hundreds of students at Waterford Valley High have been crossing the busy street daily.

Puddister said it's important to get the ball rolling on the project to avoid another tragedy on Topsail Road.

"It's not rocket science that when lunch time comes and when school is over, these children are proceeding to the Village Mall," he said.

"We need a safer way to get those children across the street, not only across the street but back when they are finished."

Puddister said he doesn't think an underground tunnel is the answer, and on Monday he brought forth a motion for the city to spend $1 million to help build an elevatedpedway.

He said some have argued that a pedway would be most effective if it went from building to building, which he said would require cooperation from the Village Mall and could cost more than $4 million.

Puddister, though,thinks a pedwayjust on the street would suffice and that city staff have estimated such a structure would cost about $2.5 million.

The rest of council wasn't so quick to embrace spending $1 million, and instead supported the motion to form a committee to take a closer look at the issue before it comes up for a vote.

Puddister says concerned parents are meeting with their MHA to talk about the issue Tuesday evening at St. Mary's Hall at 7 p.m.