The City of Richmond has decided to install a new pedestrian stairway and crosswalk after Richmond residents in the area expressed safety concerns.
The city originally said it would not build a new dyke pathway at the intersection of River Road and Gibbons Drive after the old one was removed.
However, the city has changed its mind and is in the process of having a new pedestrian stairway and crosswalk constructed in place of the old one in the fall.
Gerina Heathe, a spokesperson for the city, said the decision was made “in acknowledgement of public concerns and with a commitment to safety and accessibility of our public spaces.”
“This project aims to replace the informal pathway that was recently removed due to safety and structural concerns,” she said.
There will be a wooden staircase for access to the dyke, street lighting, new signage and road markings to guide pedestrians and an asphalt pedestrian landing.
The construction will begin this summer and is slated to be completed in the fall.
“Until the stairway is completed, residents are encouraged to use other designated safe access points located at McCallan, No.1 Road or Lynas Lane,” said Heathe.
Late last month, a number of residents living near the intersection voiced safety concerns after the city removed the old pathway and people had gone up the embankment on the grass.
The city responded at the time saying it removed the pathway, which was constructed informally by individuals, for the safety of residents and had no plans to replace it.
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