We've got answers for those curious to know about the work being around the treed area by the Sandman Hotel.
The construction is being done for the ongoing extension of Pioneer Way, which will link that street to the stretch of Government Road right by Centennial Way.
This project is broken up into three phases. The first has given the stretch of Pioneer Way east of Queens Way a makeover, which includes a new active transportation pathway, said Jesse Morwood, the District's capital projects manager.
On April 4, he and Mayor Karen Elliott were surveying the progress made on the project.
Some members of the public have been wondering about the tree removal behind the Sandman Hotel, which is something Morwood addressed.
"We're clearing the right of way for the second phase of the work," he said.
"So that did, unfortunately, require removal of some trees. We are going to be planting some trees over by the highway."
He said the details of that haven't been established yet, but the idea is to put some vegetation back in the area.
"The tree removal was required for Phase 2," said Morwood.
"That partly is so that big trucks can make that corner, this 90-degree corner they need a wide turn to be able to get through."
This also allows better access to areas of employment, such as the business park, he said.
Elliott had similar words on that matter.
"It's a really important thoroughfare to provide a good north-south connection into these employment lands, as well as you know, a lot of fun activities that are now based in the business park, and really about connecting safely that active transportation corridor," she said.
"So we've got an east-west connector here, and then there'll be another north-south right into the Discovery Trail. So it's about calming the traffic for the Northyards neighbourhood, which is seeing development, as well as providing much better access right into the businesses here."
The extension was identified as a necessary item in the , and has been on the municipality's wish list for some time.
At the moment, it may still take some time for the extension to be used by the public, but Elliott did provide some details on what's next.
"Phase 2 will take this road to Aspen road," she said. "I think the most important part of Phase 1 and 2 is connecting active transportation over to the Discovery Trail. Phase 3 will provide the [way] through to the Mamquam Bridge."
The project's first phase was projected to cost $1.06 million, which is money coming from development cost charges. These are contributions made by developers for infrastructure projects.
The District could not immediately produce figures on the cost of the project's next phases; however, the municipality did issue a statement to The 樱桃视频 promising that developer money would pay for construction.
"The Pioneer Way Extension project will be funded by developer cost charges (DCC)," reads the statement.
"The community will see an updated DCC Bylaw brought to Council in spring 2022 with updated project costs and municipal cost-sharing. The updated DCC bylaw will authorize full DCC funding of the Pioneer Way Extension project."
