Section of Kent Street reduced to one lane for duration of project

The first phase of the Fitzroy Parkade expansion project is expected to begin today.

Kent Street, between Great George and Prince streets, will be reduced to one lane of traffic until the project is completed, which is anticipated to be the end of July. The City of Charlottetown and the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation (CADC) made the announcement in a news release.

The $2.8-million project, which was approved in the city's budget earlier this year, will see the parkade expand out towards Kent Street, essentially lining it up with neighbouring businesses. Each one of the four floors in the existing structure will see additional space. The project will add 100 parking spaces to the existing 534.

The first phase of the project includes repainting all parking stall lines and will result in a full closure of the parkade beginning Wednesday.

Monthly parkers, who are displaced during the closure, will be accommodated at the Queen and Pownal parkades or can access metered parking spots throughout the downtown core. The line painting is expected to be completed by Wednesday, May 13, at which point the parkade will open again to monthly pass holders, but there will be no daily or hourly admissions.

For the month of May, all fees have been waived at the Queen and Pownal parkades. Metered parking is also available to the public for anyone who needs to be downtown for work or picking up essential items.

The Charlottetown Police Services is currently not enforcing time-related meter violations, but commissionaires are still patrolling and responding to any safety-related parking issues.

For more information, contact CADC at 902-892-5341 or visit www.cadcpei.com.