A section of road in St. John’s known for frequent accidents is scheduled for improvements to enhance safety. Kelsey Drive, situated off the bustling Kenmount Road, has long been a concern for both drivers and pedestrians. In late 2023, the city’s annual collision report highlighted the Kelsey Drive and Kiwanis Street intersection as having the seventh-highest collision rate based on data collected between 2018 and 2022. Additionally, this intersection ranked first in collision frequency at mid-block segments, which are crossing points between intersections.

Sheila Whalen, a resident from the Conception Bay North area who was shopping at the Walmart on Kelsey Drive, expressed her discomfort with driving in the area. She mentioned finding it overwhelming and congested, especially for older individuals trying to navigate through it.

Recently, the city announced upcoming construction at the Kelsey Drive intersection, along with Thorburn Road and Goldstone Street. Currently, there are limited pedestrian crossings in the Kelsey Drive vicinity, leading people to risk crossing five lanes of traffic instead of taking a longer route to reach the designated crosswalk at Kiwanis Street.

To address safety concerns, new traffic and pedestrian signals will be installed at key intersections, such as between Walmart and Home Depot, as well as Canadian Tire and Swiss Chalet. Furthermore, a new median will be added at the access point for Boston Pizza and TD Bank to facilitate right-turn-only movements for vehicles.

Councillor Kate Cadigan emphasized the importance of enhancing safety in the area to discourage reckless driving. The renovation project, costing $2.43 million and funded by the federal government, is anticipated to be completed by December. Motorists should anticipate traffic disruptions during the construction period.