“The cut,” as it is known by longtime Powell River residents, has long been one of the most dangerous roads for pedestrians and cyclists within city limits.
Now work has begun to make the stretch of Highway 101/Marine Avenue from Willingdon Beach to Brooks Secondary School safer.
The major road improvement project, one of many currently delaying and tying up traffic around Powell River, will widen and pave the shoulders along the section of road that cuts through Millenium Park and Lot 450.
Marine Avenue is BC provincial Highway 101 and under the jurisdiction of BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
In a media release, the ministry stated that the construction will widen the paved shoulders in areas between Hemlock Street and Haul Road. Also, a cross-culvert at Laurel Street is being replaced to improve drainage.
The work will take a few weeks to complete and cost approximately $150,000, according to the release.
Widening and paving the shoulders on both sides of Highway 101/Marine Avenue from Hemlock Street to Alberni Street is also part of a long-term plan.
The wider paved shoulders will provide room for pedestrians to walk and cyclists to ride on the shoulder of Highway 101, according to the ministry.
The entire stretch will not be completed this summer. The ministry stated that it is prioritizing locations.
This is one of the busiest years of late for road work in Powell River, according to City of Powell River director of infrastructure Tor Birtig. The biggest project the city has going is phase four of the Municipal Cycling Plan.
“We're doing the bike lane from Joyce and Manson avenues through to Drake Street and then on to Timberlane,” said Birtig. The paving will be completed the week of June 18 and then road markings and signage will be installed, he added.
When this phase of 7.6 kilometres is completed, Powell River’s cycling infrastructure will link Westview and Cranberry to the Townsite using dedicated bike lanes and shared lanes.
Birtig said the city is planning for more road work beginning at the end of June on sections of Maple Avenue in Townsite and at the top of Kemano Street in Westview.
Other smaller jobs are upcoming but nothing has been finalized, according to Birtig.
Excavation work currently underway along the frontage of Powell River General Hospital on Joyce Avenue is for a multi-unit seniors facility’s sewer extension and services. That work is being completed and paid for by the developers of the subdivision.
