A delay in the opening of the Evergreen Line will not affect 125th birthday programming and celebrations the city of Coquitlam had scheduled for the summer of 2016.
Raul Allueva, the city's director of parks and recreation, said while it would have been nice for the rapid transit line to be operational ahead of the BC Seniors Games and some of the city's birthday celebrations, the events are not dependent on having SkyTrain.
"Obviously, we were expecting it a little bit earlier but we will be able to figure it all out," he said. "There was no specific plans that hinged on anything."
Allueva even allowed for the possibility that the project could be done earlier than anticipated, saying, "You never really know with these big projects."
Last week, Evergreen project manager Amanda Farrell told The Tri-City News delays attributed to problems with the tunnel boring machine would push opening day back a few months to fall 2016.
She said the chamber around the cutting tool had to be reinforced to allow workers to get in safely to do repairs after the boring machine entered an air pocket and was virtually stalled under Cecile Drive.
"Because some of the ground would fall into the chamber, that results in a sinkhole," she said. "They had to do various operations to make it safe."
CHANGES AROUND THE LINE
While construction of the Evergreen Line has made a dramatic impact on the Tri-City skyline, big changes are also occurring on the land below and around the giant concrete guideways.
The city of Coquitlam is in the process of improving travel lanes, medians, streetscapes and pedestrian plazas as part of a $21-million enhancement effort along three major transit corridors.
Work will begin along Pinetree Way this spring and will see the addition of a multi-use pathway, decorative lighting, landscaping and street furniture to the thoroughfare.
Much of the project was outlined during a public input session in September and can be seen in a video flyover on the city's website (www.coquitlam.ca/pinetreeway). The city expects the work will continue until the summer of 2016.
North Road is another area that the city has identified for enhancements. Working with the city of Burnaby, median enhancement, improvements to pedestrian crossings as well as guideway accent lighting will be added along the corridor.
"The enhancements will follow the concept of the North Star," the city said in a press release. "Building on the northern orientation of the road and the association with navigation and goods and people movement along this historic transportation route."
The third area the city has targeted for Evergreen Line enhancements is Clarke Road, which will see the addition of turning lanes, medians, improved sidewalks and a multi-use pathway.
Aesthetic improvements and lighting, and a pedestrian plaza, are also being considered.
For more information about the Evergreen Line enhancements along North Road and Clarke Road, go to www.coquitlam.ca/north-clarke. For more information on the Evergreen Line, go to www.evergreenline.gov.bc.ca.
