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Safety is the top priority for one London city councillor who wants to shrink the number of lanes on a major east-west road and create a better pedestrian environment.
In a motion going Tuesday to council’s civic works committee, Ward 1 Coun. Hadleigh McAlister wants to have city staff study redesigning Hamilton Road between Adelaide Street and Highbury Avenue, and to come back with a financial pitch for the 2028-31 city budget cycle.
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McAlister is suggesting a three-lane layout with a dedicated left turning lane, protected bike lanes, and more accessible sidewalks.
“Every week (I) get a number of complaints just in terms of just the safety issues for Hamilton Road . . . speeding is a big one that always comes up,” he said. “It’s a main artery, for sure, but I think people forget in terms of: You’re going to the highway, but it doesn’t mean you have to do highway driving on that street.”
Safety issues for Hamilton Road are not unfounded, with not only major crashes, but several pedestrians and cyclists being killed in recent years, including in June. McAlister believes there is not enough space for cyclists on the busy east-west road.
Two projects on Hamilton Road are in the pipeline in the next few years, including a new roundabout at Gore Road, and a redesign of the intersection with Highbury Avenue. Both allow the city to look at the long-term future of Hamilton Road, McAlister says.
Narrow stretches, tight corners, and residents turning off their neighbourhood streets can be problematic for speeding vehicles, he said, adding a combination of parked and left-turning vehicles snarl traffic.
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“You just get traffic grinding to a halt, and if people aren’t paying attention, you’re going to get people rear-ending each other,” he said.
Any changes may mean cutting curbside street parking, which some businesses could handle while others may not, McAlister said. He wants to have discussions about where it could be included and where it’s not safe.
In a letter to politicians, Carolyn Luistro, executive director of the Hamilton Road Business Improvement Area, said the organization “fully supports” McAlister’s push, saying they’d be happy to participate in any future discussions.
She added that their board is also looking at installing a speed clock, a sign that detects and displays a driver’s speed, in the area.
“We believe this measure could play a significant role in enhancing community safety and improving the overall experience for residents, visitors, and businesses alike,” Luistro wrote.
City hall is already upgrading lighting and road markings in the area, and a red-light camera at the Highbury-Hamilton intersection is now operating. Police have also committed to improving traffic monitoring, McAlister said.
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