For the past two weeks, the intersection of Monkland and Hampton avenues has been a confusing and chaotic mess.
Hampton Avenue, which is normally a one-way street, has been temporarily turned into a two-way street and, until Wednesday afternoon, there were no warning signs.
The problem is that construction at the corner of Terrebonne Street and Hampton Avenue prevents cars from accessing Hampton.
The only other option is to take Monkland Avenue and turn the wrong way up Hampton.
Now, residents are calling the situation “dangerous.”
“People could be crossing and not see the car coming,” said one YMCA patron who frequently uses the intersection. “It’s not a good thing.”
Last week, NDG resident Mary Ellen Kenny was nearly hit as she tried to cross Hampton Avenue.
“I was crossing with my daughter and her friend and we were almost run over by a truck coming one way incorrectly down the one-way street,” she told Global News. “I called 911, because we were almost hit by a car and, as I was on the phone with 911, three other cars proceeded to drive down the one-way street the wrong way.”
Now, Kenny is calling on authorities to keep a closer eye on the corner.
The affected stretch of Hampton Avenue is a relatively high-traffic area, due to the YMCA and many residences.
Locals say there has been a general understanding that the rules of the road would have to be broken for the duration of the construction.
Wednesday afternoon, signs were finally put in place.
“They should have put up the sign earlier,” NDG city councillor Peter McQueen said.
“Now, they finally got up a sign – warning – giving pedestrians some idea that they’ll be turning into the street. It just should have been done sooner.”
The situation is expected to last another two weeks before work is complete.
With many schools going back on Monday, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are urged to be extra cautious.
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