Colwood plans to spruce up its section of Island Highway B次元官网网址� also known as the Colwood strip B次元官网网址� before time runs out on a government grant.
The project would extend sidewalks and bike lanes along both sides of the road from the Great Canadian casino to Wale Road. The work would flow into new sidewalks sections installed by View Royal and West Shore Parks and Recreation.
Work also includes creating a crosswalk with warning lights across five-lane Island Highway, on the south side of the vehicle entrance to the recreation centre.
B次元官网网址淭his area is our main entrance to the city,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Judith Cullington. B次元官网网址淲ith all the work done by View Royal weB次元官网网址檙e starting to look like a poor cousin in comparison.B次元官网网址�
Colwood council gave the go-ahead for its engineering department to tender the project. The City will match a $395,000 provincial grant with the same amount of cash accumulated from road development cost charges. The project needs to be finished by March 31, 2012 or the grant expires.
City engineer Michael Baxter stressed that the project wonB次元官网网址檛 bump up taxes in 2012 or cause an increase in the roads maintenance budget. It will be ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 largest capital expenditure since completing Wale Road in 2007, he noted.
The $395,000 grant was originally designated for sidewalks and bike lanes on Metchosin Road, but the City failed to allocate matching funds. Meanwhile, improvements near the recreation centre and along View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 portion of Island Highway pressured Colwood to find ways to clean up its part of the strip.
B次元官网网址淲ork the rec centre and View Royal have done has put us in the position of being the missing piece that encouraging walking in that area,B次元官网网址� Baxter said. B次元官网网址淎nd that area needs a crosswalk.B次元官网网址�
The gap between existing crosswalks on Island Highway, about one kilometre, is too far, especially for people walking out of the rec centre and looking access businesses on the other side of the road, Baxter said.
The tender will also seek prices for elements of landscaping eligible under ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 existing gas tax grant. Councillors stressed to Baxter that the new sidewalks should have proper landscaping.
B次元官网网址淧eople will appreciate that section of road if it looks nicer,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Gordie Logan. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a pretty place to be yet.B次元官网网址�
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