Last week during the city’s general council meeting, the subject of poor lighting on Prince Rupert’s streets was raised again.

Barry Cunningham first asked if something could be done about lack of visibility on Highway 16 near Smithers Street before acting mayor Wade Niesh asked for an update on the upgrades to lights in the city’s downtown.

We now know that new lights have not yet been installed by the province due to delays in awarding the contract and finding materials for the project.

READ MORE: City of Prince Rupert still waiting on street light upgrades

As someone who drives and crosses the streets in this city, it is very concerning to think that those upgrades — which were supposed to be completed before the end of last year — haven’t even begun yet due to administration down south.

We all live here. We all know how hard it can be for drivers to see pedestrians when it’s dark and raining. We all know that parked cars basically turn every intersection downtown into a blind corner, making it nearly impossible to see when someone is crossing the road.

The downtown streets here are dangerous, it’s as simple as that, and arguments about people needing to be more careful and look when they cross the street don’t negate the fact that poor lighting and lack of signals contribute to the problem.

The only saving grace is that the days will only be getting longer in Prince Rupert over the next few months. Here’s hoping those upgrades will be here before dark season comes around again.

READ MORE: Where are the crosswalk upgrades in Prince Rupert

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