The rural ditch between Terwillegar’s common fence and 23rd Avenue has raised several concerns. Among them, the lack of sidewalks places safety of pedestrians accessing bus stops, using cross-walks, or walking to school or to recreation and leisure activities on a daily basis, at risk. Unsafe practices, traffic congestion and unpredictable behaviors have resulted. Additionally, this natural ditch with its steep slope cannot be safely maintained by city crews. This has led to problems with pests, weeds and temporary overhead wiring and left the ditch (and our neighbourhood) appearing unkempt.
The City of Edmonton estimated the cost of upgrading this area would approach $3 million dollars as bringing this rural ditch to an urban standard requires considerable fill as well as raising all light standards. They placed this at the bottom of their priority list until the TGHA Board successfully argued about the unsafe and unkempt conditions of the ditch as well as the lack of application of city standards before City Counsel. Counsellors agreed to make this a priority project.