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Road closure and construction zone safety |
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Every day the City of Cambridge maintains roadways in order to ensure all drivers and road users can travel easily, accessibly and safely. In order to maintain the roads with high standards, city crews set up thousands of construction zones for the purpose of repairing and paving roads, utility work, capital projects and rehabilitation. Road safety guidelinesUse signsRoad crews are out daily making repairs in order to ensure everyone is safe. Help them stay safe by always staying alert and paying attention to the signs. Signs contain essential information about traffic conditions, road closures and detours ahead. Learn more about construction and road signage in Ontario Slow downDrive at the posted reduced speed limit. Be patientRoad closures are not here to personally inconvenience you, they are important to improving the roads we drive on each day. You may not be saving time but you are saving lives. Defensive drivingRemember to leave appropriate time and spacing between you and the car in front in order to give yourself enough time to break, as sudden stops can be expected in construction zones. Also, be cautious of trucks turning or backing up. Expect delays and plan aheadPlan for delays by leaving early enough so that you can reach your destination on time. You can also consider alternate routes. You can also plan ahead by finding traffic updates on your favourite navigation app or listening to local radio for traffic updates. Comply with directions given construction crews directing trafficStay alert and be prepared to obey the flagger’s directions. In a construction zone, the flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign Apps to help plan your route
Truck RoutesA heavy truck is defined as a commercial vehicle having a weight of 4.6 tonnes or more unloaded. Heavy trucks are prohibited on all roads unless signed otherwise and/or making a delivery via the shortest possible route from a truck route. Parking is prohibited for heavy trucks on any residential street |
Traffic Calming |
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The City of Cambridge receives numberous complaints or concerns from residents every year regarding speeding, traffic volumes and/or cut through traffic in residential areas. The Transportation & Engineering Services division responds by investigating the need for traffic calming measures to restore the street back to its intended function in the neighbourhood. Often times residents request interventions that are not traffic calming devices such as: traffic signals, all-way stops, or reduced speed limits. Using the wrong tools to address a traffic issue not only doesn't solve the problem, but may create additional safety issues. Examples of traffic calming devices include: on-street parking, speed cushions, curb extensions and raised intersections and crosswalks. Often times after a traffic investigation is completed, the complaints or concerns do not represent the behaviour of the majority of road users and therefore do not qualify for traffic calming interventions. In these cases residents may apply for projects to slow down or beautify their streets through the Keep Calm: Resident-led Neighbourhood Improvements program. |
Seasonal On-Road Traffic Calming Signs |
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Seasonal Traffic Calming signs are a tool that can be used to control speeds, increase awareness of school and trail crossings or delineate lanes. As the name suggests the signs are seasonal and are only used between May and October. Outside of this time period the signs are removed as they impede winter maintenance operations and are likely to be damaged. Examples include:
Speed reduction - Used in a series or in conjunction with physical traffic calming the signs are used to narrow the lane widths, altering driver behavior. The narrowed lanes make most drivers less comfortable speeding without negatively impacting emergency services and transit.
Pedestrian crossings - The seasonal traffic calming signs are also used to increase visibility and awareness of school or trail crossings. A sign placed near the centre of the crossing is more visible to the driver and increases awareness of the crossing.
Lane separation - The flexible bollards are commonly used to delineate bike lanes, multi-use trails or along the centreline of the road to delineate two-way traffic and prohibit passing. |
Radar Speed Boards |
 Radar Speed Boards, sometimes refered to as Driver Feedback Signs or Radar Message Boards, display real time speeds of oncoming vehicles.The Radar Speed Board Program is an educational tool intended to promote safe and responsible driving throughout our neighbourhoods. The program educates motorists on the speeds at which they are driving, as well as educating residents about the real speed of vehicles traveling through their neighbourhood. The program is based on the principal that many motorists are somewhat unaware that they are travelling at an excessive rate of speed, since most motorists generally drive at a speed deemed comfortable, depending on road geometry and roadside development. The operating speed electronically displayed on the Board is a strong visual reminder to the motorist to comply with the posted speed limit. The Radar Speed Boards have been well-received as a community education tool to raise awareness of motorist travel speed through neighbourhoods. Boards are rotated through the city on a weekly basis. |
Where's Tommy & Friends? |
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"Where’s Tommy & Friends?" is an interactive speed management initiative reminding drivers to slow down in residential neighbourhoods. The "Where’s Tommy & Friends?" program aims to make drivers more aware of their surroundings, especially in school zones, at corners and pedestrian areas. How does it work?
Due to high demand, requests have been placed on a waitlist and Tommy and his friends will be rotated on a priority basis. As this is a brand new service, we will be evaluating the program over the summer months and may modify or expand the service in response to community needs. Thank you for your interest in the Tommy & Friends speed management program.
Where is the crew this week? |
Keep Calm: Resident-led Neighbourhood Improvements |
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Looking for ways to make drivers slow down in your neighbourhood or add beauty to your streetscape? The Keep Calm program can help you do just that. Examples from other cities below:
Keep Calm is a resident-led neighbourhood improvements program that encourages neighbours to get together and implement creative projects to slow down or beautify their neighbourhood streets. The program has three main objectives:
Learn more below: |
Pedestrian Crossovers |
As of January 1, 2016, drivers, including cyclists, must stop and yield the whole roadway at:
Pedestrian crossovers
School crossings with guard
Drivers and cyclists who do not yield may be fined $150 to $500 and face three demerit points. Crossovers are identified by specific signs, road markings and lights.
The new law does not apply to pedestrian crosswalks at intersections with stop signs or traffic signals, unless a school crossing guard is present. Drivers, including cyclists, must obey all stop signs and traffic signals. Part of Making Ontario's Roads Safer Act, this new law also provides municipal road authorities with the ability to install new types of pedestrian crossovers on low speed, low volume roads in addition to the existing crossovers. It is up to both drivers and pedestrians to keep everyone safe on our roads. Check out the Region of Waterloo's What you need to know about new pedestrian crossovers. |
where these rectangular black and white pedestrian signs are present pedestrians have the right of way, drivers are legally required to stop for the entire duration of the crossing
Crossing guards now control the whole crosswalk, drivers may not cross the crosswalk when the crossing guard has a stop sign on display even if their lane is open. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way when a crossing guard is not present and displaying a stop sign.