Northern Health has asked the Burns Lake council to consider adding a crosswalk on Centre Street in front of the Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre.
“There are a number of patients, physicians and staff that are crossing the street multiple times during the day,” said Marie Hunter, health services administrator for the Northern Health Lakes District area. “It was brought to the attention through WorkSafeBC and the local Joint Occupational Safety and Health Committee about the potential safety risk for all.”
Hunter said the safety of hospital patients is not the only concern since the Burns Lake Playschool, The Pines and the Burns Lake Medical Clinic are located right across the street.
“Another risk factor is the ambulances and transit buses that are utilizing this part of the street, both turning in and pulling out into the traffic,” she added.
Although the new $55-million hospital added sidewalks along the front of the property, which has created a safe walking path, Hunter said the crosswalk was “another detail that was not addressed at that time.”
“Centre Street is very busy and the RCMP continually patrols this part of the roadway, but it doesn’t seem to deter the speeders,” she added. “It is the hope with a marked crosswalk that it will attract the attention of drivers to reduce speed and be mindful of congestion created by pedestrians and extra vehicle traffic.”
Village staff will prepare a report with the estimated cost of a crosswalk at the location requested and present to council during their next meeting on May 24.