Hundreds sign petition against Shea Heights road construction

Nearly 900 people living in the Shea Heights area of St. John's have signed a petition over construction they say is making a busy road more dangerous.

According to residents, the City of St. John's has narrowed Linegar Avenue,in atraffic calming initiative for the area.

"Two vehicles can pass, but the drivers are so nervous that they're stopping and having to wonder about hitting their mirrors, and it's an impossibilityfor a pedestrian or a cyclist in the areas,"JessWilkins, chair of the road committee for Shea Heights told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.

The committee formed after Wilkinswas bombarded with calls and messages from members of the community, tryingto figure out what they could do to fix the road problem.

As a former RCMP officer, Wilkinshad the insights into who to call, and ended up with thetraffic records from Linegar Avenue's recent past.

Wilkins said thoserecords showed that in the last three yearsthere have been nopublic complaints about speeding in theareaand there havebeenzero traffic accidents on the street.

He also saidit's city policy to get a 60 per cent vote from residents of the area to go ahead with traffic-calming efforts, and that the city did a poor job in promoting apublic consultation.

Sunday rally

Some of the community members who signed the petition gathered near the roadon Sunday evening.

Resident Paul Drukentold CBC Newsit wasa way to raise some awareness, and to show people and the city exactly what their concerns are.

"We're an older community, sure. We pay our taxes like everyone else, and if they're going to do something we want it done right," Druken said.

If they're going to do something we want it done right.-Paul Druken

"Everyone says the same thing, that it's a little too narrowand there is room there. They can move back."

Druken added there are concerns for residents with impaired mobilityand are unable to make it to the convenience store on the street some days.

"The sidewalks aren't cleared in the winter. We had one girl, she busted the wheel on her tire and she had a scary experience in that area," he said.

City responds

A statement from the City of St. John's transportation engineering department said the council was aware of the concerns in Shea Heights.

"Council is considering options for the area and will communicate its response with residents once a decision is reached," the statement said.

It added that all decisions so far have been in consultation with the public, and with the aim to increase people's safety and reduce speeds in the area.

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