City of Vancouver releases jam-packed construction list for summer
CBC News | Posted: May 14, 2015 2:54 AM | Last Updated: May 14, 2015
City hoping to minimize impact of 29 planned construction sites
Vancouver drivers already frustrated by construction delays and road closures should brace for even more traffic jams as the city announced Wednesday its summer construction projects.
The City of Vancouver released its summer construction schedule for 29 sites including some of the busiest arterials in the city. Roadwork will be done on Pender Street in Chinatown where water main repairs will cause big disruptions and Broadway, between Glen and Commercial, where the road is being rebuilt and re-paved.
There are more construction projects this summer than last year.
Jerry Dobrovolny, the city's transportation director, says every effort is made to minimize impact on traffic.
"We've coordinated the work so we don't have major arterials running in the same direction under construction," he says. "For example ... when we're working on the False Creek bridges, we won't do work disrupting Burrard Bridge and Granville Bridge at the same time."
The city is urging drivers make the switch to public transit or map out their routes before hitting the road.
Charles Gauthier,president of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, says the city should give a minimum of four weeks notice for planned construction and road closures.
"What we found is that the more advance notice the city can provide to any one that is coming downtown or travelling throughout Metro Vancouver area is beneficial," he says. "When that happens we have found fewer complaints people have been able to find alternative routes."