Crosswalks

The installation of pedestrian crosswalks on provincial highways requires the approval of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. If the provincial roadway is located within a municipality's boundaries, the municipality must support the installation location. Requests for the installation of a crosswalk in a municipality should be submitted to the municipal office. Municipalities can determine appropriate crosswalk locations on roads within their boundaries. 

The department applies national warrants, guidelines, technical experience and engineering judgement to determine if a location is suitable for the installation of a crosswalk, and which type of crosswalk (for example, regular signs and pavement markings or pedestrian activated overhead flashing lights and signs) should be installed.   

A crosswalk location evaluation will consider available stopping sight distance, the number and type of pedestrians crossing the roadway and the number and speed of motor vehicles in the area. If a crossing location does not experience regular daily usage by many pedestrians, drivers who frequently drive through the area are less likely to respect a crosswalk and the pedestrians who use it. An unmarked crosswalk encourages pedestrians to cross the roadway using more caution and is considered safe.   

The existence of a crosswalk does not automatically make it safe to cross a roadway. While drivers are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing, it is the responsibility of the pedestrian to use extreme caution when crossing a roadway. They must check all directions for on-coming traffic and only cross the road when they can safely do so. Be sure that approaching traffic sees you and is going to stop before stepping onto the roadway. 

If you feel an area should have a crosswalk, contact your local municipal office. If the location is outside of a municipality, send your request and the concern to [email protected]. 

A trail or multi-use path crossing is where a trail or multi-use path crosses a roadway. The warning sign advises motorists that they are approaching an area where a trail or multi-use path crosses the road.

Trail or multi-use path crossings differ from crosswalks in that trail users must yield the right-of-way to vehicular traffic before crossing the road. Before entering the roadway, the trail user must stop, check all directions for on-coming traffic and only cross the road when they can safely do so.