Dundee’s streets will be safer with the introduction of new pedestrian crossings on the city’s busiest road, councillors believe.
Two sets of light-controlled crossings will be installed on the Kingsway after Dundee City Council backed plans to “make streets safer”.
Some drivers have previously raised concerns about the introduction of crossings between the Forfar Road and Old Glamis Road junctions.
Motorists expressed fears over an increase in congestion on an already busy section of road, but local councillors have moved to ease concerns.
City centre councillor and Dundee city development convener Lynne Short said she expects very little negative impact on waiting times as a result of the new crossings.
She said: “The lights will only change if there are pedestrians there to make that effect happen.
“It’s good news because it’s the opportunity for safe travel from the ward into Caird Park, or if you want to go to Morrisons, then there is that safe way of getting there.
“We already have something incredibly similar at Clearwater, in the Broughty Ferry area.
“It’s very good because it’s all about making our streets safer.
“We are very much a society that is always in a hurry, but we have opportunities to leave five minutes earlier if we are going somewhere.
“Just bear in mind that we don’t have to rush through life.
“It’s just an additional support to what is already there.”
Broughty Ferry councillor Derek Scott asked the administration if adjacent streets could become the target of “rat-run” drivers, with motorists opting to drive through residential routes to avoid perceived delays.
Ms Short however does not see this as a significant issue.
She said: “I know people who do not use the Kingsway because they are nervous drivers or because they would prefer to take other routes.
“It’s a city bypass which goes through a city, so we need to live with what we’ve got.
“A rat-runner will rat-run no matter what.”