THUNDER BAY -- A city sidewalk will be built despite a recommendation from city administration.
Residents of Woodcrest Road between John Street Road and Hutton Park Drive have been waiting for a sidewalk on the street’s West side for a decade.
But city guidelines say the sidewalk shouldn’t be built until the area meets a certain development threshold. For that reason it was recommended the area continue to wait until that development happens.
Coun. Trevor Giertuga said people in the area have waited long enough, reminding council that money is already there for the sidewalk to be built.
“We’ve put this on their taxes and collected it and put it in the bank,” Giertuga said.
Council voted with the McIntyre councillor to have that sidewalk go ahead next year. Some pointed out the amount of children walking to school, forced to use the road. Council saw it as an accident waiting to happen.
“I think the time is now,” Coun. Frank Pullia said.
Administration had recommended the city prohibit parking on both sides of the roads to help with safety concerns and revisit the area by the end of the year.
The sidewalk will be considered in next year's budget.
