Edmonton city staff have been asked to study how reducing lanes on 112th Avenue would affect traffic through the Highlands neighbourhood.

A proposal under consideration would change 112th Avenue from a four-lane thoroughfare to a three-lane road with wider sidewalks. The proposed version would have two lanes in either direction and a centre left-turn lane.

Administration believes the measure could slow traffic and make the area safer for pedestrians. Jo Anne Merrit told council's transportation and infrastructure committee Tuesday that she favours this so-called "road diet."

"Having lived only metres from the road, I can personally attest to the speed of most of those who use 112th," she said.

"There are days when cutting the grass beside the road or shovelling the snow on the sidewalk is a dangerous task at best."

Not everyone who spoke to the committee supports the idea. Les Anderson lives in a neighbouring community and uses 112th Avenue for his commute.

"I like the mayor's comment that have two lanes, one way, during the peak time," he said. "I could certainly live with that because that would certainly give a better flow of the traffic and that would reduce it to the three lanes as they're suggesting."

Councillors on the transportation and infrastructure committee asked city staff to make sure neighbouring communities that use the road are consulted as part of their study.