New look for old traffic circle and nearby road in Mississauga may be permanent

The temporary makeover of a main street and surrounding area in a west Mississauga neighbourhood aimed at making the roads safer for everyone could become permanent.

Major changes made to The Credit Woodlands area, off of Dundas Street West a couple of blocks east of Mississauga Road, took hold in early August with the intention of increasing road safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Key among the improvements is a change in traffic flow/direction at one of the city’s oldest traffic circles located near two elementary schools and a small plaza.

The Credit Woodlands project is the latest installment in the City of Mississauga’s ongoing Sharing Lanes initiative, which has been implemented in other areas of Mississauga the past few summers with positive results, officials say.

Intended to last for at least two years while the City gathers data and feedback from residents with respect to any safety improvements, the changes may be made permanent if they’re shown to have had a positive impact, officials note.

Sharing Lanes is aimed at making streets safer and more attractive to those who use them, the City says.

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Mississauga officials say this year’s project will test new ideas on some of the sidewalks and roadway sections of The Credit Woodlands, specifically around Bert Fleming Park and two nearby elementary schools, Springfield Public and St. Gerard.

One of the ideas being introduced is the implementation of a new traffic flow along The Credit Woodlands and the traffic circle located on that street by St. Gerard and the plaza.

Diagram shows new traffic flow/direction at The Credit Woodlands traffic circle. (Image: City of Mississauga)

The objective, officials say, is to increase safety for “vulnerable road users and improve access to Bert Fleming Park.”

The move is expected to make it easier for people to cross the street to get to and from the small park.

“This new configuration encourages drivers to drive the posted speed limit and improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists, including families and students travelling to and from school, and residents using the park,” City officials say.

In launching this year’s Sharing Lanes initiative, which they say takes a “tactical urbanism” approach to community building, City officials did so armed with public feedback gathered earlier this year.

“Tactical urbanism is an approach to city building that uses affordable, temporary measures to demonstrate different uses of the roadway and public space,” a City spokesperson said in an earlier news release.

Plans for the space around The Credit Woodlands include:

• traffic calming measures including a new configuration/two-way traffic flow for the roadway around Bert Fleming Park
• six new crosswalks connecting the park and school
• vibrant designs on the roadway in front of the two nearby schools
• transformed streets where a section of the roadway is replaced with a car-free community plaza space that will provide space for things like seating and community activities

Input from residents was gathered earlier this year, the feedback helping the City understand what pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers experience when travelling in the area, officials said.

Aerial photo shows area of The Credit Woodlands, including the old traffic circle, that will take part in the Sharing Lanes initiative. (Photo: City of Mississauga)

The City says tactical urbanism has been used by cities around the world to examine new ways to think about and enliven public spaces.

“The City of Mississauga identifies spaces that vulnerable road users may find uncomfortable or difficult to navigate, where the addition of traffic calming measures can have a positive effect,” Mississauga officials say.

The Credit Woodlands is the City’s fourth tactical urbanism project. Earlier projects include the Jaguar Valley Drive and Princess Royal Drive area in central Mississauga in 2022 and Living Arts Drive in 2019.