Construction of 5th Street Complete Street Pilot Project Shifts East of Harmston Next Week

After the Canada Day long weekend and the parade, the construction area on 5th Street will extend east from Harmston to Fitzgerald to upgrade the 60-year-old watermains. Work will continue through the summer and paving of the entire project area will occur all at once in September.

Due to construction, the Canada Day parade will have a shortened route down 5th Street and the staging area will be on Harmston Avenue.  To view the 2018 parade route and other Canada Day event information, visit  www.courtenay.ca/canadaday

The contractor is preparing a traffic management plan to safely complete the remaining  underground work and in the shortest amount of time to reduce impacts to area properties and businesses downtown. During the first few weeks of July, periods of one way traffic on 5th Street between Harmston Avenue and Fitzgerald Avenue are anticipated, with full closures expected at times later in the summer.  

Scheduled water interruptions in the immediate area were initially going to occur in phases, with some connections planned for late June. The contractor has since adjusted the approach to incorporate scheduling efficiencies, and the water connections will now occur all at once in July. Short, scheduled water interruptions are required to connect private properties to the new water main. Property owners will be notified of scheduled water interruptions with several days’ written notice.

Businesses on 5th Street will remain open and pedestrian access will be open at all times. Signage will be installed to advertise that the area is “Open for Business”.

While construction can be challenging, the new infrastructure will serve the neighbourhood and the region for decades to come.

Later this summer, construction will shift to “above-ground” infrastructure, including: 

• Two freshly paved lanes
• Bike lanes physically separated from vehicle traffic
• Improved accessibility for strollers, scooters, and wheelchairs
• Parking between Fitzgerald and Harmston, and alternating parking and rain gardens throughout the remainder of the corridor
• And, innovative stormwater management to improve drainage

100 percent of eligible project costs will be covered through the federal Gas Tax Fund, under the Strategic Priorities Fund - Local Roads, Bridges and Active Transportation category. For more information on the project, and to sign up for project updates by email, visit www.courtenay.ca/completestreet