Construction in Gastown begins next week

Vancouver's plan to renew and revitalize Gastown will begin next week with repairs to Maple Street Square, city staff said Thursday.

Overall, $10 million has been set aside for the improvements. This includes $4.5 million for sidewalk repairs and upgrades to Trounce Alley, $5.5. million for the public spaces plan.

The repair work includes removing damaged brick pavers and asphalt patches in the roadway and replacing them with new brick pavers.

City staff say the interim repairs will make the street safer and easier to use while they work toward a permanent design for the area as part of the Gastown public spaces plan.

During construction from March to June and then the Water Street pedestrian zone pilot from July to August, Maple Tree Square will be closed to vehicles.

Local vehicle access for residents and businesses will be maintained, staff say, including deliveries and access for visitors and customers.

Access will also be maintained for emergency vehicles for all except short periods during construction.

During a technical briefing Thursday, Rachel Magnusson, the city's senior branch manager of street activities, said the plan for the pilot is to have two central car-free blocks, including the Richards Street to Cambie Street block where the steam clock is located and Maple Street Square. Magnusson said these car free zones will “act as gateways to the community.”

“We have quite an extensive monitoring and engagement plan that we'll be rolling out throughout the pilot to learn as much as possible from it ... how people are using the street, why are they coming there, what are they doing there, what do they want to see? That's going to be really important to informing the future,” she said.

Construction in Maple Street Square next week will involve removal of loose and broken pavers and removal of the concrete substructure on Water Street through the square, said Eric Mital, the city's director of streets.

Paul Storer, the city's director of transportation, said the goal is to make sure that everyone who needs to get to Gastown will be able to do so during construction.

He said drivers heading westbound on Powell Street won't be able to continue through the intersection at Main Street. So they are planning a second left turn which will allow more vehicles to turn left onto Main Street.

Columbia Street between Hastings and Powell will become a two-way street to allow more convenient access into or out of the eastern part of Gastown, east of Carroll, he said.

Preparation works will include repaving a large section of Water Street with bricks.