A cycling/pedestrian overpass on Summit Drive is in the City's hopper for design work, but with construction estimated at $3 million or more, making it a reality could be years away.

City administrator David Trawin said Wednesday the design work is being done in case a grant program comes up that would help fund the foot and bike overpass.

Thompson Rivers University students jaywalking across the four-lanes of Summit Drive north of McGill Road have been a long-standing problem and concern.

The overpass design was adopted by City council in its bicycle master plan, with the Summit overpass ranked second. Peterson Creek is the top priority.

That $3-million price-tag includes the overpass, ramps, walkways, sidewalk on Summit and fencing.

The structure would also have to include plexiglass or some barrier to provide security for those crossing and prevent rocks from being thrown down on passing cars.

Coun. Arjun Singh posted a discussion about the overpass on his blog after it came up in a development services report at council and he saw a comment by the TRU student union president wondering what was happening.

"It's in the development services report and in the plan. It was raised four or five years ago, and we voted not to do anything about it," he said.

But he didn't expect it will be a big issue for council.

"I think if TRUSU wants to raise it, or someone, it's important to talk about," he said.

Council has other issues to tackle, like downtown parking, the next budget cycle and the proposed Ajax mine, Singh noted.

"This would be an issue I would welcome other folks to champion, if they want to do that. I would engage in that discussion and dialogue."

TRUSU president Dustin McIntyre said he noticed the item in the council report and wanted to find out more. But at this stage, he was just exploring information.

Police used to ticket students jaywalking across Summit instead of walking to the crosswalk at the intersection with McGill Road, he said.

People will take the shortest route possible, though, and he said it would be in the best interest of TRUSU members if there was an overpass to connect the two sides of the road.

"I know students want it. As far as students asking us to lobby for it, that hasn't happened," he said.

"I do see that happening at some point. There are probably seven or eight complexes in that area, Dalgleish area, that are using it. And there are many who live along the Battle Street corridor."

Regardless, the Summit Drive overpass is on council's agenda again next month at a workshop to discuss its pedestrian master plan.