New vibrant green markings have appeared at the busy intersection of 8th Street and Saskatchewan Avenue in Portage la Prairie.
These lines are part of a city initiative to enhance safety by clearly designating bicycle crossing areas.
According to Jocelyn Lequier-Jobin, Director of Operations for the City of Portage la Prairie, the purpose is clear.
"The green markings designate the bike lane crossings to separate the pedestrians from where the bikes are crossing and from the vehicle traffic," she says.
The goal is to reduce conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers at signalized crossings.
Expanding safety measures city-wide
The installation at 8th and Saskatchewan is just the beginning. Lequier-Jobin confirms the program will expand, noting, "Those will be going in at all of the intersections with signals, so it'll be at 8th, 12th, 18th and Elm Street at the West End. There, all of them will be getting those green paint markings."
Beyond the intersection crossings, additional markings are planned for the bike lanes themselves.
Lequier-Jobin elaborated on future work: "We had put them on the first section from 4th to 7th, so those will be going on the other bike lanes as well. In addition, in the area from 18th Street West, where we have the multi-use path, it will just be getting a dotted line down the center."
This means cyclists can expect clearer lane designations and path markings on existing routes.
The new green lines represent a visible step towards safer multi-modal transportation infrastructure in Portage la Prairie, with more improvements slated for key intersections and bike routes.
