![A rainbow crosswalk on a main street.](/en/news/resources/One-off-photos/Pride-crosswalk-enhancement-project.jpg)
Downtown Pembroke is getting an improved Pride crosswalk.
Thanks to a collaboration of the City of Pembroke, Pembroke Business Improvement Area, Pembroke Pride, and PFLAG Renfrew County, the existing Pride crosswalk at Albert Street and Pembroke Street West will be replaced using a durable, thermoplastic material. Thermoplastic is a cutting-edge material used in road markings and crosswalks to ensure durability, safety, and visibility.
The benefits of this material include:
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Long lasting: Thermoplastic is designed to withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions, ensuring the crosswalk remains intact and vibrant for three to five years. Its resilience means less frequent maintenance, saving time and resources.
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Bright colours: The material’s vibrant and reflective colours make the crosswalk highly visible both day and night, enhancing pedestrian safety.
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Fade resistant: Unlike traditional road marking paint, thermoplastic maintains its colour longer, ensuring continuous high visibility.
- Slip resistant: The surface of thermoplastic is designed to provide better grip, reducing the risk of slips and falls for pedestrians.
“The City is excited to partner on this project to improve the vibrancy of this crosswalk and its message, while also ensuring high pedestrian safety standards,” says Paul Champagne, Supervisor of Roads and Fleet.
The crosswalk enhancement will happen in three stages, starting Monday, June 17.
Stage 1: Removal and Repaving
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On Monday June 17, the City of Pembroke Roads Department will completely remove the existing asphalt of the crosswalk at Albert Street and Pembroke Street West. Staff will be on site during removal and paving to carry out traffic control and minimize traffic disruptions and ensure pedestrian safety.
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A road closure will be in effect at Albert Street and Pembroke Street West. All businesses on Albert Street will be accessible from Lake Street.
- New asphalt will be laid down immediately following removals by our paving contractor – McCrea’s Excavating – to ensure a smooth and durable base for the new crosswalk.
Stage 2: Curing Period
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It is essential to allow the new asphalt to cure for four weeks before installing the thermoplastic crosswalk.
- This curing period allows the asphalt to settle and for the initial oils to dissipate, which is crucial for the proper adhesion of the thermoplastic materials.
Stage 3: Installation of Thermoplastic Crosswalk
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After the four-week curing period, on Monday, July 15 the new durable thermoplastic inclusive Pride crosswalk will be installed.
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A road closure will be in effect at Albert Street and Pembroke Street West for the duration of the installation. All businesses on Albert Street will be accessible from Lake Street.
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The installation process involves heating the thermoplastic materials to a high temperature, allowing them to bond effectively with the asphalt. This ensures the markings are more robust and longer lasting than traditional road marking paint.
- Once applied, thermoplastics cool and harden quickly, reducing the time needed for road closures and minimizing traffic disruptions.
“This will be the fifth anniversary of the Pride crosswalk in downtown and we’re excited we’re going to have this new technology in road markings that will allow it to have a longer lasting vibrancy,” says Bethea Summers, Pembroke Business Improvement Area Executive Director. “We’re grateful to the community, Pembroke Pride, and PFLAG for their ongoing fundraising efforts that make it possible to have this crosswalk in our downtown. It allows us to showcase that downtown and its businesses are welcoming and inclusive.”