Highway 845 in Coaldale gets pedestrian lights

For Coaldale resident Tessa Neufeld, the day she let her two oldest kids ride their bikes to school was a scary moment.

“I watched them at the corner so they don’t see you kind of nervous,” admitted Neufeld.

Neufeld lives only a few blocks from her children’s school, but to get there, her kids have to cross highway 845.

“My kids and my husband were going from school to home and they watched a high school student get hit by another high school kid. It scared them,” says Neufeld.

The highway runs through the town of Coaldale and is major transport route for modular homes and wind turbine parts. For years, residents like Neufeld have been pushing to get a cross walk and just last week it finally happened.

The principal at St. Joe’s School in Coaldale says it will benefit all schools in the town.

“Putting the lights on highway 845 allows safe access to St. Joe’s now, RI Baker, Kate Andrews… because a lot of people have to walk there.”

Town officials say Alberta Transportation finally heard residents concerns. Craig says now it’s up to the drivers to slow down, and pedestrians to be extra vigilant

“My one concern is I hope that people don’t just push a button and walk, but they will stop look and listen.”