PEDESTRIANS will soon get a five-second head start at many downtown intersections.

Workers have begun installing leading pedestrian intervals at nearly 100 downtown intersections, the city said in a news release Monday.

The change will give pedestrians a five-second head start to cross a street before drivers travelling the same way get a green light.

Council’s public works committee instructed staff last month to make the change citywide at all eligible signalized intersections within the year.