Calls for safety improvements to a busy South Surrey intersection have now been answered, with installation of a median at 40 Avenue and 176 Street.
Surrey South Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux celebrated the measure in a tweet Monday (April 19) morning.
Glad to see this new median in place to improve safety at 40th and Hwy 15. @TranBC @CityofSurrey pic.twitter.com/SPmwFK7Y3k
— Stephanie Cadieux (@Stephanie4BC) April 19, 2021
The intersection has been a subject of concern for years, and in particular following a fatal collision in September 2019.
READ MORE: Intersection safety in question after South Surrey crash
“I live near this intersection and have seen the aftermath of many accidents there, some of which have resulted in gruesome fatalities,” Avtar Singh Longiye wrote on the PAN’s Facebook page at the time.
Another resident described trying to turn north onto 176 Street from 40 Avenue as “like a death trap.”
Changes suggested ranged from a median to prevent such turns, to a traffic light, while officials with the transportation ministry said a review was underway “for opportunities to improve safety at the intersection.”
Cadieux also weighed in at that time, stating she no longer felt safe making left turns at that intersection and questioning why more wasn’t being done.
Last September, ministry officials said designs to improve safety were in the works, with the project to be funded by the ministry and improvements looking to be completed by spring 2021.
In January of this year – the same month in which emergency crews dealt with a two-vehicle incident involving a dump truck at the intersection – ministry officials said safety-improvement plans were going to tender.
Exact cost of the work was not immediately available.
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Cars line up on 40 Avenue to turn onto 176 Street in South Surrey, prior to installation this month of a median that prevents eastbound drivers from turning north. (Nick Greenizan photo)
