On Highway 7 West and Davis Drive in Newmarket, important changes are on the way for how drivers and pedestrians use intersections and travel along the road. Each rapidway project is at a different stage, and along the Highway 7 East rapidway in Markham and Richmond Hill, these road and intersection changes have been in effect for about two years.
Aside from rapidways for fast, convenient transit, projects include wider sidewalks and attractive landscaping. Each project helps to connect York Region, and manage future growth for generations to come. Once construction is underway in the centre of the road on Highway 7 West and Davis Drive, here are some of the changes that you need to watch for, and follow the signs:
Dedicated left-turns
- Dedicated left-turn lanes at rapidway intersections
- Dedicated left-turn signals – motorists can only turn left when the left-turn arrow is illuminated
Right-turn access, via intersections with u-turn signs
- To access to mid-block destinations on the opposite side of the road, motorists will make u-turns at intersections.
- Rapidway intersections with u-turn signs will allow drivers to make a u-turn from the left turn lane, once the left-turn arrow is illuminated.
- Global studies of traffic control have shown this to be a safer way to turn left on a multi-lane road.
Shared lanes for right-turn and through traffic
- Curb-side lanes will be shared by right-turning and straight-through traffic.
Two-stage pedestrian crossings
- Intersections will be wider with the new rapidway lanes.
- Pedestrians may cross intersections in two stages if unable to cross in the first signal.
- A waiting area will be in the middle of the crosswalk, where pedestrians can press the “walk” button and wait for the next signal.
- Pedestrians will need to press the “walk” button for the “walk” signal to be displayed.