Upgrades to improve safety for road users will be coming to 17th Street this year.
The City of Courtenay says the upgrades will begin in early May, with work being done Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The project is expected to be done this summer.
The work will include:
- Curb extensions at crosswalks to shorten crossing distance at Grieve and McPhee avenues
- Pedestrian-activated flashing beacons at Grieve, McPhee, Piercy and Tull avenues
- Curb protected cycle tracks with parking between Fitzgerald Avenue and the Rotary Trail
Eligible project costs will be funded through a $1.7 million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, according to the city.
The upgrades are designed to connect previous changes made in the fall on 17th Street. These included painted, parking-protected bike lanes between the Rotary Trail and Willemar Avenue and pedestrian-activated flashing beacons at Piercy and Tull avenues.
The new phase will link the Rotary Trail, the 5th Street corridor and the Fitzgerald bike lanes to improve Courtenay’s cycling network, according to the city.
Traffic will be single-lane alternating at times, but the city says there will be access to the area during the construction. Traffic personnel will be there to direct vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The city thanks road users for their patience during the construction.
