The preparation work has been going on for months but things are kicking into high gear on McMillan Street in Parksville this week with major rebuilding.
Windley Contracting is removing the surface layer and rebuilding with a thicker road base and 85mm asphalt layer in accordance with the city’s current downtown road classification.
The upgrades include new water main and storm sewers, moving the overhead utilities underground, beautifying the street scape and safety improvements for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
It will include two pedestrian signals, bike lanes, trees and a new traffic signal at Hirst Avenue using energy-efficient LED lights.
The initial design and planning work for the $3.1 million project started in 2008, but was delayed by looking into options for downtown traffic.
Although weather dependent, Windley Contracting said it should take 22 working days, wrapping up around mid-April.
They are working with the city to minimize traffic disruptions but there will only be alternating single lane traffic during working hours and intermittent closures.
There are detour signs in place and they recommend avoiding the area, though the city stresses that businesses are still open and accessible from the Alberni Highway side.
Traffic control personnel are on site.
The traffic control management plan can be viewed on the city’s website (www.parksville.ca) and at the city engineering department, Koers Engineering at 194 Memorial Ave., and the Windley site office at 180 Morrison Ave.