The Region of Waterloo won't be going ahead with planned interim safety improvements on Myers Road this year, and could press pause on plans until 2026, after an advertised tender for the project received no bids.
In a letter to residents who provided input on the upgrades last week, lead construction engineer for the project Michelle Pinto explains that staff reached out to prospective bidders after not getting any interest in the project and concluded the work could not be done in 2023.
"Staff is reviewing possible options for 2024 and will provide an update once we’ve completed this review," Pinto wrote.
Residents can see the update on the Engage Waterloo Region website, when new information is available.
The news comes as a disappointment to Ward 7 councillor Scott Hamilton who championed the implementation of a 40 km/hr speed limit along the stretch last year and was eager to see the enhanced interim safety measures the region had in store for this year.
"Ever since I was elected, Myers Road has been one of the biggest problems I've heard about as a councillor. It's a dangerous road for pedestrians and children trying to get to school," he wrote in an email to CambridgeToday.
In April, regional council approved improvements and traffic calming measures along the stretch that included construction of a pedestrian/cycling ramp to connect Myers Road to California Road, and adding raised pedestrian crossings just east of Lorraine Drive at the existing traffic signal and in front of Moffat Creek Public School at a future Level 2 Pedestrian Crossing.
The project would have also seen the installation of a Level 2 Pedestrian Crossing on Myers Road at Gatehouse Road/Lisbon Pines Drive, shortening the crossing distances.
Level 2 pedestrian crossings are designated crossing areas where vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians.
The ramp connection from Myers Road to California Road is designed to significantly decrease walk times for students headed to Moffat Creek Public School from the adjacent neighbourhood.
The raised pedestrian crossings, with pavement markings, signage, and a “speed hump,” was touted in a staff report as providing greater visibility for the pedestrian crossing area while helping to slow down traffic.
Additional lighting was also to be reviewed as part of the detailed design of the ramp.
But although the ramp is expected to be in place long-term, the raised crossings and adjacent curb work will have to be removed during major reconstruction project scheduled for Myers Road in 2026, putting in doubt the feasibility of installing the interim solutions only two years in advance of them being ripped out.
Concerns about insufficient space for the drop-off and pickup of students at Moffat Creek Public School will still be addressed when the Waterloo Region District School Board opens a 32-space parking lot expansion behind the school, with access off Dundas Street this summer.
This will provide space for parents to drop off and pick up students.
The parking lot expansion is being completed in order to divert school traffic from Myers Road to the back of the school since the existing shoulders on Myers Road in front of the school are no stopping and no parking zones.
Despite the rush hour bottleneck, Hamilton says he's often seen 60 to 80 cars parked there each morning and afternoon.
"It's like guerilla-parking-warfare trying to park at Moffat Creek," Hamilton says. "I've never seen a school like it."
Hamilton says the unique history and geography of Holy Spirit School and Moffat Creek School and Myers Road has created what he calls a "perfect storm of conditions that can lead to accidents and injury;" no parking, few crosswalks, a large, fast road, with excited kids rushing to get to school.
Two years ago those fears played out when a boy was struck by a truck while crossing the road after school.
He fears it will only get worse once development in the Southpoint subdivision takes off across Dundas Street South.
"We have the new Rec Complex and libraries being built up the road, as well as many new residential developments on the way in this area," Hamilton says.
"It's critical that Myers be redesigned immediately by considering how much busier this area will become in only a short time. We have to think ahead and be proactive today, if we want safer streets tomorrow."
