Canada Drive Active Transportation & Road Safety Improvements

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Changes are coming to Canada Drive. Canada Drive, from Columbus Dr. to the Team Gushue Highway (approximately civic address 243 Canada Dr.), is part of the backbone cycling network as outlined in the Bike St. John's Master Plan. Adding a bike facility and integrating it with a pedestrian path means upgrading active transportation in this area. It will also improve road safety as driving lanes will be narrower. There are two options being considered.

  • Option 1 - Bi-directional bike path on one side of the street, sidewalks on both sides of the street, parking allowed on south side only (odd numbered houses)
  • Option 2 - Shared Use Path (SUP) on one side, sidewalk on the other side, parking allowed on both sides

The preferred option selected at this time will apply to the entirety of Canada Drive (as noted above) over time as road work is undertaken.

The City is prioritizing projects that help create a cycling backbone network and where work can be completed during planned rehabilitation and construction within other infrastructure projects. By piggy-backing on roads rehab to upgrade active transportation along Canada Drive, we will reduce overall cost and avoid future tear up (cost avoidance).

Council approved the Bike Master Plan in 2019. Its vision is to create “a safe, inclusive, and convenient cycling network that is well-connected, attractive and reflective of the City’s unique topography and climate. As part of an integrated mobility network, this is supported by policies and programs that promote a cycling friendly culture.” (Bike Master Plan, 2019)

Work is planned for the following sections:

  • 2023: Columbus Drive to Hamlyn Road (pending funding)
  • 2024: Hamlyn Road to Cowan Avenue (pending funding)

This active transportation path from Columbus Dr. to the end of the Team Gushue Highway extension will ultimately connect to Kelly’s Brook Shared-use Path to create an east-west cycling network.


Changes are coming to Canada Drive. Canada Drive, from Columbus Dr. to the Team Gushue Highway (approximately civic address 243 Canada Dr.), is part of the backbone cycling network as outlined in the Bike St. John's Master Plan. Adding a bike facility and integrating it with a pedestrian path means upgrading active transportation in this area. It will also improve road safety as driving lanes will be narrower. There are two options being considered.

  • Option 1 - Bi-directional bike path on one side of the street, sidewalks on both sides of the street, parking allowed on south side only (odd numbered houses)
  • Option 2 - Shared Use Path (SUP) on one side, sidewalk on the other side, parking allowed on both sides

The preferred option selected at this time will apply to the entirety of Canada Drive (as noted above) over time as road work is undertaken.

The City is prioritizing projects that help create a cycling backbone network and where work can be completed during planned rehabilitation and construction within other infrastructure projects. By piggy-backing on roads rehab to upgrade active transportation along Canada Drive, we will reduce overall cost and avoid future tear up (cost avoidance).

Council approved the Bike Master Plan in 2019. Its vision is to create “a safe, inclusive, and convenient cycling network that is well-connected, attractive and reflective of the City’s unique topography and climate. As part of an integrated mobility network, this is supported by policies and programs that promote a cycling friendly culture.” (Bike Master Plan, 2019)

Work is planned for the following sections:

  • 2023: Columbus Drive to Hamlyn Road (pending funding)
  • 2024: Hamlyn Road to Cowan Avenue (pending funding)

This active transportation path from Columbus Dr. to the end of the Team Gushue Highway extension will ultimately connect to Kelly’s Brook Shared-use Path to create an east-west cycling network.


CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

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    Is there a plan on how to handled increased congestion at the entrance to Cowan Heights Elementary due to what I appears to be a narrowed roadway on Canada Drive? Will there be a left turn light installed from Cowan Avenue onto Canada Drive to better control traffic? Due to congestion of traffic when school is in session you may wait 3-6 light changes before you can make a left hand turn from Cowan onto Canada Drive. I believe traffic surveys have been done and the indication is that a left hand turn light is not warranted. I'm unsure when the traffic survey indicating this was completed but I can guarantee that it wasn't completed 8 AM in the morning or 2 PM in the afternoon while school is in session.

    Crose asked almost 2 years ago

    The City of St John’s applies established criteria to evaluate whether or not the advanced left turn signals (arrow) should be introduced at an intersection. The need for protecting a left turn movement with a left turn arrow is based on a combination of factors including traffic volume and collision history. Typically, we conduct traffic volume counts in AM and PM at an intersection to capture the highest peak hour at the intersection. We will conduct left turn analysis on the basis of peak arrival and dismissal time for school if it warrants any improvements.

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    Why waste taxpayers money on this pile of nonsense?? How about repairing alot of the crappy pavement conditions in this city. There are so many bad spots in this city that are almost big enough to park a small car into and just drive right over it,,,good lord. I've been in the automotive world over 35 years and I've seen what our roads do to vehicles,absolutely scandalous!! The eastern portion of this country are the biggest purchasers of suspension parts and im 100% sure that all automotive mechanics will say the same

    Sparky asked almost 2 years ago

    Thank you for your feedback. As noted in the project information, any improvements to active transportation will be piggybacked with roads rehabilitation using cost-shared funding from other levels of government. This project is designed to help create a backbone network from east to west as outlined in the St. John's Bike Master Plan. The City's Strategic Plan outlines a goal to expand and maintain a safe and accessible active transportation network. 

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    With option one will there be well marked crosswalks at regular intervals for those parking on one side but needing to access homes on the opposite side?

    Susan Foran asked almost 2 years ago

    The City of St John’s has criteria by which it evaluates locations for installing a pedestrian crosswalk. These are based on criteria that take into account factors such as the number of pedestrian crossings, the distance of road they have to cross, stopping sight distance, sightlines, traffic volumes and speeds.  Applying this warrant led approach ensures that crosswalks are introduced on a consistent basis across the road network thereby helping to maintain driver respect and understanding of them.  Crosswalks will only be installed if it meets the crosswalk installation criteria.

Page last updated: 21 Feb 2024, 12:45 PM