S E R V I N G
2012
M I S S I O N
S I N C E
1 9 0 8
CCNA
85¢+HST
COMMUNITY STEPPING UP TO HELP Groups are donating funds to the Pernosky family
THURSDAY, MAR. 28, 2013
PAGE 6
JEPSEN DONATES $60K The Mission-raised singer has contributed money to start a bursary and three additional donations to the music programs of the local high schools. Left: Workers put the final touches on the approach paths to the new walkway. Right: Those on foot and cyclists will soon have a safer way to get to the Junction Shopping Centre. JASON ROESSLE PHOTO
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Pedestrian walkway being built Lighting upgrades also planned for overpass BY CAROL AUN Mission Record
A $2.3-million pedestrian walkway to the Junction Shopping Centre is being constructed on the east side of Highway 11, just south of the Lougheed Highway. The much-demanded path has been a priority project for previous councils, but only now has the Ministry of Transportation agreed to spend the money. A two-metre wide aluminum structure will be built to hang off the overpass and above the railway tracks.
The project is a compromise, said Mission Mayor Ted Adlem, who explained the district originally wanted to eliminate truck traffic from First Avenue. The compromise was a reduced speed on First Avenue (from 50 km/h to 40 km/h) and a walkway, explained Adlem. “It should’ve been done many years ago, and I’m glad it’s being done now,” he noted. But as part of the downtown revitalization plan, the municipality is still working on convincing the ministry to re-route truck traffic from First to North Railway Avenue. When you see people walking along the highway, it’s obviously very dangerous, said AbbotsfordMission MLA Randy Hawes, adding
it was only a matter of time before someone would be hit and killed. The idea for a pedestrian overpass is too expensive and there are a lot of safety concerns too, said Hawes. “We need a sidewalk someone can push a cart or baby carriage on,” added Hawes. The walkway was already high on the ministry’s list, and with a little push, it was moved to the top, said Hawes. There will also be structural and lighting upgrades to the overpass, noted Marc Dalton, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. Gregory Ould, founder of Blanket BC, has been advocating for this type of infrastructure for years. He lobbied previous municipal councils and the provincial gov-
ernment for years and didn’t give up when they told him there was no funding. Now, he’s “ecstatic” about the work. Ould likes to bike or walk to as many places around the community as he can with his family and has had some close calls walking to the Junction from Lougheed Highway. As a driver, he also nearly hit three youth walking on the same path. “Some guy on the phone veered towards me and I moved over and nearly hit them,” Ould recalled. “You feel very uncomfortable walking there.” An official announcement for the project is scheduled to be held today (March 28) at the Junction Shopping Centre. For details from the event, visit missioncityrecord.com.
EARTH HOUR NUMBERS IN District of Mission residents improved the municipality’s Earth Hour numbers over last year. However, the district was still seventh from last out of 68 other communities. PAGE 10
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