‘Lucky to get through it alive’: Calgary’s ‘riskiest’ intersection
Posted Sep 3, 2026 3:17 pm.
A northeast Calgary intersection has been flagged by officials as the riskiest place in the city for pedestrians.
The crossing at Martindale Boulevard and Martindale Gate NE was highlighted in a recent report examining pedestrian‑collision risks at locations without existing signals, lights, or flashing beacons.
One longtime resident says navigating it can feel like a gamble.
“I’ve been living in this neighbourhood 30 years, and I’ll tell you, some days I’m lucky to get through it alive,” he said.
He adds that drivers frequently roll through the stop sign without fully stopping, while pedestrians are often distracted by their phones.
“People got to be more aware of what’s going on,” he says. “You can’t just walk across and hope for the best.”
Ward 4 Coun. DJ Kelly says many of the intersections flagged in the report were designed before distracted driving became a major safety concern. He notes that distraction plays a significant role in serious collisions.
“At least 22 per cent of traffic fatalities involve someone being distracted, and we believe that number is actually underreported,” says Kelly.
Another area resident says a flashing beacon would make a noticeable difference, especially for people who end up sprinting across the road to avoid speeding vehicles.
“It just slows down traffic a little more. Gives the drivers more time to react. Instead of coming to their own judgement, they just look and see the flashing light.”
Students at a nearby school tell CityNews they’ve had their own close calls.
“He just zoomed past me when I was right there. So many speeders, man,” one student said.
The intersection falls within Ward 5, and local councillor Raj Dhaliwal says he wants improvements at the location to be treated as a top priority.
