'I nearly got run down': Stratford man wants lights installed at new crosswalk

A Stratford resident who says he almost got "run down" wants overhead flashing lights added to the new crosswalk at Bunbury Road and Horton Road, near the No Frills.

The Department of Transportation installed the crosswalk about six weeks ago at the urging of the town.

The crosswalk has the standard white stripes, and drivers are alerted by "crosswalk ahead" signs.

The driver just never saw me until the last moment and we came very close to having a collision. Phil Blatch

But nearby resident Phil Blatch doesn't think that's enough.

"I was attempting to cross there one evening, about 5:15, and I nearly got run down by a half-ton truck," he said. "I was in the crosswalk, part way across, and the driver just never saw me until the last moment and we came very close to having a collision."

Blatch has written emails to the minister and deputy minister of transportation.

7,500 vehicle crossings a day

In an emailed response to CBC, the department said the crossing meets Canadian guidelines for a two-lane road with traffic levels of up to 12,000 vehicles a day. It has about 7,500 vehicles crossing a day, the department said.

While there is currently no plan to install overhead lights, the province did say it is looking at ways to improve sight lines by cutting back some vegetation from the roadside to the north of the intersection.

50 km/h speed limit

The province is also considering adding an overhead light to a nearby electricity pole, and an additional 50 km/h speed limit sign.

Blatch said putting up overhead lights would still be the best solution.

"It's so hard to put a price on public safety there," he said. "I would think whatever the cost it would be well worth it."

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