Niagara Falls will replace the memorial sign on Falls Avenue with a larger version, while flower-pot markers will be added above all Highway 420 way-finding signs on city/regional roads to more appropriately acknowledge the highway as Niagara Veterans Memorial Highway.

Last week, city council approved $5,000 to be allocated in the 2021 Remembrance Day ceremony budget for the project, and for staff to explore cost-sharing opportunities with Niagara Region.

Last November, politicians requested staff, through an approved motion brought forward by Coun. Victor Pietrangelo,repurpose some of the funds not used during the 2020 Remembrance Day ceremony to replace the Niagara Veterans Memorial Highway signs and have staff come back with recommendations on new designs.

Through consultation with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation and the Region, staff recommended the aged memorial sign on Falls Avenue be replaced with a larger version, and that flower-pot markers be added.

Staff said they will ensure the signs are installed before Remembrance Day ceremonies on Nov. 11.

Last November, Pietrangelo said travellers heading west from the border on the 420 will notice a sign dedicated to veterans right before they reach Stanley Avenue, on the right side. For people travelling east, a sign can be seen before Drummond Road, also on the right side.

Staff met with ministry officials to review council’s request and to understand if deviations from ministry policy were plausible to increase the size of the memorial signs, to enhance their prominence on the road and visibility to passing motorists.

It was concluded the memorial signs conform to the ministry’s policy documents and cannot be replaced with larger versions.

The ministry, however, noted the memorial sign on Falls Avenue, east of Stanley Avenue, is on a Region right-of-way; therefore, the ministry’s policy would not be applicable, and with consent of the Region, the sign can be replaced with a larger version.

Staff said ongoing discussions with the Region over the past several months led to approval of the city’s request for a larger sign.

The Region installs these signs within their right-of-way, and manufactures all traffic-related signs at its in-house sign shop.

Staff said the Region has equipment and materials to create signs up to five feet in height by 10 feet in length. This will effectively double the size of the existing memorial sign.

The new memorial sign proposed for Falls Avenue was modelled from examples elsewhere in the province, said staff.

Staff also reviewed how other Ontario municipalities are installing memorial signs.

In Peel region, for example, flower-pot signs have been installed along a route, in addition to memorial signs at dedication limits.

Through discussions with ministry officials, staff said this proposal was not supported along the Highway 420 mainline.

However, ministry officials noted these signs can be installed on city and regional roads which lead to Highway 420 on-ramps where existing way-finding signs are present.

These signs will be installed along Montrose, Dorchester and Drummond roads, as well as Stanley Avenue.

Ray Spiteri is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach him via email: raymond.spiteri@niagaradailies.com

Ray Spiteri is a Niagara Falls-based reporter with the Niagara Falls Review.