Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After two pedestrian incidents outside Highmark Stadium while the Buffalo Bills were playing the Denver Broncos on Monday night, Erie County Legislator John Mills wants to see infrastructure improvements before next season.
"I've been advocating for this for many, many years," said Mills on WBEN on Thursday. "It's always bothered me that we have pedestrians walking on roads and fields and private property around the stadium."
Mills explained what he would specifically like to happen.
"Sidewalks, handicapped [wider] sidewalks, on Southwestern Boulevard
and on Abbott Road going North to Milestrip, and South to Big Tree Road.
And on Big Tree Road as well."
In addition, Mills is calling for enhanced lighting around Highmark Stadium.
"People need to be protected. It's a zoo over there with the new stadium
going up," he said.
Mills added that these improvements would benefit the new stadium, which he notes would be considerably busier than the current stadium.
He thinks the infrastructure would cost anywhere from a couple of million to five million dollars. It would be the responsibility of the state which has taken over the facility from Erie County.
Mills wants the changes to be made next spring, before the new stadium is fully constructed.
On Monday night, a 65-year-old Rochester man was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash on Southwestern Boulevard. A 32-year-old Buffalo man was arrested the following day on a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Later that night, a second pedestrian was struck and seriously injured at Abbott and Milestrip. Police said the victim attempted to cross the street against the crosswalk sign. It was determined that the vehicle had the right-of-way at the time of the accident.
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