City closing eastbound lanes of Beach Avenue

Starting today, the City of Vancouver will be closing the eastbound lanes of Beach Avenue to traffic in order to create a safe space for residents to walk and cycle while maintaining a safe distance from each other.

The city says the goal of the partial closure isn’t to encourage large gatherings, but to give nearby residents more room to move and practise physical distancing during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The city has heard concerns about the inability for residents to practise physical distancing while exercising or getting fresh air, particularly in denser parts of the city like the West End,” the city said in an information bulletin.

“The Stanley Park seawall and English Bay areas are already very crowded. Residents are encouraged to get exercise and fresh air in their own neighbourhoods while maintaining two-metre spacing from others.”

The closure will move all eastbound traffic, including the No. 23 bus, to Davie Street.

The city says motorists will still be able access their residences from the westbound lane, but drivers travelling westward who need to access Beach west of Denman Street will be diverted briefly onto Denman and then onto Morton Avenue before rejoining Beach.

Residential parking will be maintained on the north side of Beach where possible.