Construction of the Lake-to-Lake Bike Route has achieved a milestone with all major site works complete in the 100 to 600 blocks of Martin St. Finishing works including installation of the barriers, signage and signals will continue over the next several days as conditions allow. Intersections along Martin St. may be temporarily changed to three-way stops to allow the installation of the signals to be completed.
“We’ve been challenged with deliveries and the weather but crews are making the most of available working hours to meet this target and minimize disruption for businesses before the tourist season gets underway,” says Penticton Engineering Design Supervisor, Tyler Figgitt.
Drivers should be aware that with the completion of this work, parking on the west side of Martin St. has been removed permanently and the 200 block between Westminster Ave. and Nanaimo Ave. has been narrowed to one lane of vehicle traffic to allow for restaurant patios as well as the bike route.
The majority of the crews and equipment are now focussed on completing the intersection at Martin St. and Eckhardt Ave. to take the route across Eckhardt Ave. to Rory McIvor Way. Drivers should be aware that crews will need to close Rory McIvor Way for several days in July to allow construction to occur. Drivers are asked to watch for signage alerting them of the closure and to choose alternate routes.
The City wants to remind citizens that cyclists are not allowed on the route until it is completed and officially open. “We’re excited to see that cyclists already want to use the new route. Now that the paint is on the ground and the barriers are going in, it is very tempting to try it out,” says Figgitt. “We can’t emphasize strongly enough that bikes are not allowed on the route until construction is complete. The route is not safe for cyclists or drivers until the traffic signals and signage are in place.”
Barriers and signage are being installed to alert cyclists that the route is closed. Cyclists are asked to follow the current rules of the road until the route is open which is expected late July. The City is planning a number of activities to educate the community about the changes that will come from the opening of the bike route. Watch for a video, quiz, newspaper ads and other materials to be available in advance of the opening of the first sections of the route.
More information about this project including a high-level schedule and description of the main construction activities are available on the construction page at www.penticton.ca/lake-to-lake. Residents with questions about construction of the route are asked to email engineering@penticton.ca or call 250-490-2521.