City of Nelson launches latest publicly driven improvement to Nelson’s downtown

Public Works and Utilities Director Colin Innes says upcoming work on the corner of Cedar and Front Street will make room for new left-hand turning bays slated for the intersection next spring.

As part of its continued implementation of the publicly driven Sustainable Waterfront and Downtown Master Plan (SWDMP) recommendations, Nelson City Council is taking another step in the most comprehensive upgrade and beautification program Nelson has seen since the famous 1980s revitalization of Baker Street.

Over the past six months, The City has completed numerous major projects that have improved infrastructure, the business community, development potential, the tourism and retail sectors, and Nelson’s cultural community.

Those improvements include completion of Nelson Hydro’s Downtown Conversion, the upgrade of sewer and water lines throughout many residential neighbourhoods, the completion of the city’s new high speed fibre optic broadband network, the addition of new shopper-friendly four hour parking zones downtown, upgrades to the promising Railtown District and a second round of public art installations throughout the downtown core.

The next phase of improvements, as recommended by the SWDMP, includes the beginning of the Stores To Shores Downtown Revitalization Program.

Aimed at establishing stronger, safer pedestrian and traffic connections between historic Baker Street and the city's beautiful lakefront, the project will see the re-alignment of traffic flow on a number of downtown streets and a comprehensive beautification project stretching along the only thoroughfare that connects the waterfront to the City’s bustling downtown hub — Hall Street.

Starting within the next few weeks, in anticipation of next year’s Cedar and Hall Street re-alignments, crews will be preparing the intersection of Cedar and Front Street for the addition of opposing left-turn bays.

Then, next spring, Cedar Street will be resigned along with an overhaul of the five-way Cedar/Vernon/High Street intersection.

“We’re going to get to work now before winter arrives to create space to add the turning bays next spring,” says Public Works and Utilities Director Colin Innes. “There’ll be paving, curb and sidewalk work done now, so that when spring comes we’ll be able to add new signage to Cedar Street and make the traffic improvements very quickly.”

With the creation of a longer-stay four-hour parking zone added just off Cedar this summer, on the 700 and 800 blocks of Vernon Street, and other traffic flow improvements, Cedar Street will serve as a new eastern gateway to the entire downtown core.

The first phase of the Hall Street stage had been slated for the 500 block, between Baker and Herridge Lane, this past month. But in an effort to ensure the project stays on budget, and that construction did not impede Nelson’s vital summer tourism season, the first phase has been postponed until next spring and expanded to include the 400 block (Baker to Vernon Street) and 300 block (Vernon to Lake Street).

“All of those new stages are currently under design, and scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015,” says Mayor John Dooley. “We decided to postpone the first phase due to a tight construction schedule, which would have put the project over budget.”

While the plans are now in place, Council values your feedback on the proposed improvements. Please visit nelson.ca to see the initial concept drawings. More information on the entire Stores to Shores project can be found on the Hall St. Project webpage.