City sidewalk projects wrap up

The final city road and sidewalk rehabilitation project of the year is done as workers repaved the sidewalk running along 3rd Avenue in front of the Prince George Native Friendship Centre last week.

In 2019, crews completed seven sidewalk projects of about 1.5 kilometres, including 325 metres of newly installed concrete sidewalk.

The largest took place on the south side of Highland Drive, from Berwick to Glenngarry Road, while two new sidewalks were added to 2nd Avenue from Ospika to Quinn Street and on 22nd Avenue from Highway 97 to the entrance to College of New Caledonia.

New and enhanced sidewalks were also included as part of the parkade and Park House condominium developments next to City Hall. They include the rehabilitation and extension of the paved trail next to Connaught Hill from Patricia Boulevard, the widening of the sidewalk on the north side of 7th Avenue across from City Hall, and the increased frontage of Veterans Plaza.

Crosswalk improvements included a pedestrian-activated crosswalk systems with flashing beacons at the St. Lawrence Avenue and Southridge Avenue and 20th Avenue and Oak Street crosswalks, a crosswalk at the Highland and Dundee Drive intersection and a countdown pedestrian signal at Queensway and 5th Avenue.

Road safety improvements included signalization of the Ospika Boulevard and 22nd Avenue intersection, a 30 km/h speed limit and parking restriction on Pidherny Road, new advanced warning and chevron signs for road curves on Purdue Road East and on Old Summit Lake Road, a “30 km/h while Children on Roadway” speed limit on Kelly Road North, parking restrictions on Zral Road for Springwood Elementary to increase safety for students as they are dropped off and an additional accessible “handicapped parking” stall and wheelchair ramp next to the Central Interior Health Society at George Street and 4th Avenue.

In 2017, council voted to double the budget for sidewalk construction and rehabilitation to $1 million per year.