Quinte West Council has approved a project to install sidewalks and lighting on a dangerous stretch of 2nd Dug Hill Road during Wednesday’s meeting.
After approval, the next step in the process is design, where municipal staff will begin design work on the improved road layout with sidewalks and lighting. The project is being tied to an existing planned installation of a new sanitary trunk sewer line along 2nd Dug Hill road.
To fund the project, council has approved a budget of $200,000. This will cover the design work but not the installation, which is estimated to cost close to $6.6 million.
During the council meeting, local resident Diane Lyndon made a request that a temporary walkway be installed immediately in order to separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic. During her deputation to council, she stressed the urgent need for safer walkways in the area after the death of 14-year-old Seryn Lazzaro, who was hit by a vehicle while walking on 2nd Dug Hill Road with a friend on the evening of November 17. She died later in a Toronto hospital.
Council accepted her deputation, but passed the plans for the new sidewalk as presented by staff without debate. The plans did not include a temporary sidewalk.
