![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PEOPLE-CROSSING-AT-SCRAMBLE-CROSSWALK.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nPedestrians will continue to cross in every direction at several Whyte Avenue intersections for at least another year after the City of Edmonton delayed plans to remove its scramble crosswalks until 2027.<\/p>\n
The crossings, introduced in 2018 to improve pedestrian safety, were originally scheduled to be removed this summer as part of a project intended to improve traffic flow and transit reliability along the busy corridor.<\/p>\n
In a statement,\u00a0Sam El Mothar, Edmonton\u2019s transportation infrastructure delivery director, said the city postponed the project to improve construction planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to defer construction was made to enhance the efficiency of project delivery and minimize impacts during construction,\u201d said\u00a0Sam El Mothar, Edmonton\u2019s transportation infrastructure delivery director.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes as thousands of people visit Whyte Avenue for the annual Art Walk, where the scramble crossings remain heavily used by pedestrians travelling between shops, restaurants and festival attractions.<\/p>\n
Reaction from pedestrians was mixed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think it\u2019s good that they delayed it because I\u2019d like to keep it,\u201d said\u00a0Hannah Rondeau, an Edmonton pedestrian.<\/p>\n
Others questioned whether removing the crossings should be a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kind of seems like a waste of time,\u201d said\u00a0Jay Campbell, an Edmonton pedestrian. \u201cWe have better things to be worrying about. The roads themselves are in rough shape everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some residents, however, supported the city\u2019s original plan to prioritize transit.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the sake of the buses, I would rather have a fast bus and lose the scramble crossing than have the scramble crossing and have a slow BRT route,\u201d said\u00a0Ethan Welte, an Edmonton pedestrian.<\/p>\n
The city has said the all-pedestrian signal phase contributes to traffic delays and affects bus reliability along Whyte Avenue.<\/p>\n
Local businesses welcomed the decision to postpone construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should do their best to not block storefronts to ensure it\u2019s still very accessible,\u201d said\u00a0Signe Yerxa, store manager and landlord at John Fluevog Shoes. \u201cPeople need to know the stores are open and that they can still walk through.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city said delaying the work will allow construction to be completed within a single season while minimizing disruption to businesses, residents and visitors.<\/p>\n
No construction date has been announced. The city said project timelines and anticipated traffic impacts will be released once they are finalized.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tPeople crossing scramble crosswalk in Edmonton on July 10, 2026. (Leo Cruzat, CityNews) <\/p>\n
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