Davenport Road and Macpherson Avenue Safety Improvements

The project area is along Davenport Road and Macpherson Avenue from Huron Street on the west to Rathnelly Avenue on the east, and along Cottingham Road and Poplar Plains Road to the north.

There are proposed improvements to six intersections:

1. Cottingham Road at Glen Edyth Drive and Davenport Road
2. Cottingham Road at Poplar Plains Road
3. Boulton Drive at Poplar Plains Road triangle
4. Davenport Road / Poplar Plains Road at Macpherson Avenue
5. Macpherson Avenue at Davenport Road
6. Macpherson Avenue at Rathnelly Avenue

The project also includes three mid-block safety improvements:

• Convert one-way bike lanes along Davenport Road/Macpherson Avenue to a two-way cycle track along the south side of Davenport Road between Poplar Plains Road and Huron Street
• Install concrete protection barriers along Poplar Plains Road bike lane from Cottingham Road to Poplar Plains Crescent
• Upgrade to shared pavement markings along Cottingham Road

The project is being advanced now for several reasons.

• Between 2015 and 2018, residents and residents’ groups worked with the local Councillor’s office to pursue safety improvements at four intersections in the project area through the City’s Transportation Safety and Local Improvements program. The City prepared preliminary designs and installed some improvements using quick-build materials.
• In 2021 design was completed for a new park south of Macpherson Avenue at Davenport Road that will be constructed in 2026 and require new connections to the park for pedestrians and people cycling.
• In 2027, road resurfacing is planned along various streets in this area which provides an opportunity to make more complete and permanent safety improvements in the greater area.

The proposed changes would improve safety for all road users by:

• Reducing dangerous vehicle movements and providing safe and clear direction through intersections
• Improving and providing new safe connections for people walking and cycling

Changes will also incorporate improvements to public space.

Davenport Road Cycle Track between Huron Street and Poplar Plains Road

The proposed design changes the existing one-way painted bike lanes to a single two-way cycle track on the south side of Davenport Road/Macpherson Avenue . The change includes:

• A protective concrete curb to separate people cycling from people driving.
• No impacts to parking or vehicle movement.
• Opportunity for westward extension of the two-way cycle track along Davenport Road in the future.

Cottingham Road at Glen Edyth Drive and Davenport Road

The proposed design creates a more typical intersection with clear direction for vehicles and a reduced pedestrian crossing distance.  The proposal includes:

• New intersection design with two separate intersections.

1. 1. 1. 1. Cottingham Road and Davenport Road: Extending Cottingham Road to create a normalized three-way intersection with reduced curb radii, narrowed and marked pedestrian crossing and cycle crossride across Cottingham Road.
         2. Glen Edyth Drive and Cottingham Road: Expansion of Glen Edyth Drive Parkette with the extension of Glen Edyth Drive by approximately 13.5 metres ending at Cottingham Road.

• Upgraded shared lane markings on Cottingham Road.
• The design includes new safe connections from the proposed two-way cycle track on Davenport Road to existing bike lanes.
  • People cycling between the Davenport two-way cycle track and shared lanes on Cottingham Road would use a raised cycle track along the parkette edge and new crossrides across Cottingham and Davenport at Huron to make the connection safety.
  • People cycling westwards along the two-way cycle track would use the crossride across Davenport Road at Huron Street and proceed westwards on the one-way bike lane on the north side of Davenport.
• Improved street lighting.
• No impacts to parking or existing trees.

Proposed Glen Edyth Drive Parkette Extension

The proposed extension of Glen Edyth Drive Parkette would include planting, a concrete pathway, sod areas and armourstone seating walls. A new sidewalk and raised two-way cycle track run along the south of the parkette.

Additional design details and images appear in the public consultation materials.

Cottingham Road at Poplar Plains Road

The proposed design provides clearer direction for people driving and new safe crossings for people cycling. The proposal includes:

• Curb radii reductions with narrowed and clearly marked crossings to improve pedestrian safety.
• Designated and marked vehicle left-turn lane and through lane on Poplar Plains south of Cottingham Road.
• Concrete barrier curbs at the intersection and in locations north along Poplar Plains Road to provide physical protection for people cycling.
• A two-stage crossing queue box provides a dedicated space for people cycling while waiting to turn left onto Cottingham Road.
• Refreshed paint marking to indicate shared lane use on Cottingham Road.
• No impacts to parking or existing trees.

Boulton Drive at Poplar Plains Road triangle

The proposed design reduces the turn radius at this corner to restrict unsafe vehicle maneuvers.  The proposal includes:

• Extension of Boulton Drive Parkette to the south with sod area.
• Sidewalk extension to the south.
• No impacts to parking or existing trees.

The corner radius reduction will:

• Restrict illegal U-turns from Poplar Plains Road to Boulton Drive while protecting legal U-turns from Boulton Drive to Poplar Plains Road.
• Encourage vehicles to travel and turn at appropriate speeds.

Additional design details and images appear in the public consultation materials.

Macpherson Avenue at Davenport Road and Poplar Plains Road

The proposed design reconfigures the skewed intersection into a normalized four-leg intersection. Proposed changes create clear direction for people driving and new safe connections for pedestrians and people cycling.  The proposal includes:

• A new traffic signal and removal of roadway medians and barriers.
• Improved road alignment on the south side of the intersection, supported by a two-way cycle track west of Davenport Road / Poplar Plains Road
• Westbound through movement would be permitted for vehicles along Macpherson in the new design
• Curb radii reductions and narrowed, clearly marked pedestrian crossings at all legs of the intersection.
• Accessibility upgrades for people with low to no vision at all corners, including tactile walking surface indicators.
• Marked crossing areas for people cycling.
• No change to prohibited southbound left turn movement from Poplar Plains Road.
• Expanded sidewalk for a safe pedestrian waiting area at the northwest corner.
• New protected two-stage left turn queue-box and crossride across the south leg of the intersection to connect people cycling between the two-way cycle track on Macpherson Avenue and the existing one-way bike lanes intersecting here.
• No impacts to parking or existing trees.

  

Macpherson Avenue at Davenport Road

Changes will improve safety for all road users at the intersection. The proposal includes:

• Curb extensions and curb radii reductions at the north-west and south-west corners of the intersection to help restrict wrong way turning movements from Davenport Road westbound onto Macpherson Road.
• Narrowed and clearly marked pedestrian crossing across Macpherson to improve pedestrian safety and provide safe access to future new park.
• A portion of sidewalk on the east side of Davenport Road shifted eastwards to widen the roadway at this tight bend and allow two larger vehicles to safety pass each other at appropriate speeds.
• A vehicle guard rail on the concrete barrier curb that separates the cycle track.
• No impacts to parking.

Macpherson Avenue at Rathnelly Avenue

The design reconfigures the intersection into a three-way stop-controlled intersection and allows pedestrians to safely cross Rathnelly Avenue. The proposal includes:

• A permanent curb radius reduction on the southeast corner to replace the existing painted curb extension.
• Narrowed and clearly marked pedestrian crossings with tactile indicators.
• Relocated stop sign eastbound on Macpherson Avenue.
• New stop control southbound on Rathnelly Avenue.
• Reduction of two on-street permit parking spaces on Rathnelly Avenue.
• No impacts to existing trees.

Public Consultation will take place January 5 to January 28, 2026. There will be an opportunity to learn about the proposed changes at a Virtual Public Event, and provide feedback to City staff during the event, using an online survey, via email or phone.

Consultation Materials 

• Public Notice
• Public Meeting Presentation

Following public consultation, City staff will report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee of City Council on February 19, 2026 for approval of proposed by-law changes.

Feedback on the proposed designs will be considered as part of the detailed design process.

Virtual Public Meeting

The Virtual Public Meeting will include a presentation followed by a Question and Answer period.

Date: January 15, 2026

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Register

Feedback

To provide comments on the proposed changes, complete the online survey open January 5 to January 28, 2026. Contact us for an alternative format.