Fed-up residents are demanding a pedestrian crossing over Dundee’s busiest road is finally switched on.
Shamrock Street resident John Richmond claims he has had to repeatedly dodge speeding cars as he crosses the road as lights at a new toucan crossing installed on the Kingsway have not yet been switched on.
The crossing, near Mains Loan, was created in preparation for the expected influx of pedestrians wanting to cross the busy road when the Caird Park Regional Sports Centre opens later this year.
While the work appears to be complete, the traffic lights remain dark.
John, 65, takes his dog to the park several times a week
The retired firefighter said: “Several times a week I have to dodge heavy traffic to cross the Kingsway and conclude that the current users of Caird Park are unimportant and not worth the small amount of effort it would take for someone to switch the crossings on.
“The intention was to make travel safer to the park and towards Morrison’s. The work did not begin until July last year and was only completed in March this year — completed except for actually making the crossings operational.
“The new toucan crossings should also provide safe access to the green circular route for many cyclists from a large part of the city who at present have trunk roads to cross.”
Mr Richmond noted the park is busier than usual at the moment because of workers at the sports centre.
“Many of them park on Mains Loan, so they could use the traffic lights being on,” he added.
“Many other people use the crossing. The power is on because there is a red light at the top which I think is for monitoring traffic as it passes so it’s not that there is no power going to it.”
A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said they do not have a date set for when the lights will be active, but it is expected to happen by the time the new sports centre opens.
The spokeswoman added that while the work may appear complete to the untrained eye, there may still be electric work required.
She said: “A number of pedestrian crossings have been built to allow pedestrians and cyclists safe access to and from the Regional Performance Centre for Sport. All crossings will be operational when the centre opens later this year.”
When told the intention to have the lights operational in time for the sports centre opening, Mr Richmond added that “shows that the current users of Caird Park are not important to them”.
