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Drivers' 'patience' sought as Port Coquitlam begins major upgrade to Prairie Avenue

The project’s first phase, which includes sanitary and storm pipe upgrades between Cedar Drive and Fremont Street, is now in progress and will wrap up by the spring. Then construction will begin on a multi-use path, a traffic circle and other improvements.
Diane Strandberg
Diane Strandberg
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Port Coquitlam set to begin construction on a major road upgrade to Prairie Avenue.Mario Bartel

Port Coquitlam is asking drivers to be patient as it begins a multi-year upgrade to improve Prairie Avenue for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

In a Tweet, this week, Port Coquitlam announced it would start construction soon to improve safety and access along this major north side connector, which is used by more than 13,000 vehicles a day.

The project includes pedestrian safety and streetscape improvements, street lighting, street trees and road reconstruction as well as a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists between Fremont Street and Burns Road. 

“This project will improve the face and function of Prairie Avenue, and have a positive impact on not only residents and businesses on the north side, but the thousands who use the road every day,” said Mayor Brad West in a statement. “It’s exciting to see these long overdue improvements start to take shape, as we continue to make capital upgrades throughout the community and strive to get the basics right.”  

The project’s first phase, which includes sanitary and storm pipe upgrades between Cedar Drive and Fremont Street, is now in progress and will wrap up by the spring. The third future phase will focus on the section between Shaughnessy Street and Coast Meridian.

Current planned work includes improvements to 1.6 km of Prairie Avenue between Coast Meridian and Fremont Street, including:

• New three-metre-wide multi-use pathways on the south side of the roadway,

• Parking lanes on both sides of the roadway,

• A traffic circle at Newberry Street,

• A raised median 

• LED street lighting and street trees, and

• Road reconstruction and new pavement.

Drivers can expect impacts and inconvenience as the work proceeds and property owners have been contacted about issues such as the removal of vegetation, fencing and irrigation that has been installed on the city boulevard, and changes to driveways may happen in accordance with the city’s subdivision bylaw.

“We’ll be doing our best to minimize disruptions, but we recognize there will be some inconveniences and we thank everyone for their patience throughout the construction,” stated Coun. Darrell Penner, council’s designate for public works matters.

Upgrades for the section between Shaughnessy Street and Coast Meridian will be considered for the 2023-2024 capital program based on budget availability.

For more information about the project, visit portcoquitlam.ca/prairie. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected].