Halifax crosswalks to blossom with colours of the rainbow

Halifax Regional Municipality began itsrainbowcrosswalk pilot project overnight Tuesday.

The four crosswalks to be painted in rainbow colours to reflect "diversity and inclusion" are:

• GottingenandCornwallisstreets
• Spring Garden Road andBarringtonStreet
• Spring Garden Road and South Park Street
• AlderneyDrive andOchterloneyStreet

"Therainbowflag is synonymous with the LGBTQ+ community and as such the municipality is showing its support by laying down the colours in some of our crosswalks, just in time for Halifax Pride 2016," a news release said.

Safety standards

The painting started at12:30 a.m. Wednesday at Barrington Street and will bedone onSpring Garden Road, Gottingen Streetand then Alderney Drive. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

Intersections with overhead signals were chosen for the project to conform withgovernment safety standards.

Last year,Wolfvilleattempted a similar project, painting a rainbow crosswalk on its Main Street, but was forced to repaint the white stripes after a letter from the province about safety hazards.

The Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal toldthe town the design did notconform with provincial or national standards. The crosswalk's non-white markings might not be recognized or show up properly at night, the department said.