Downtown Maple Ridge’s east entrance is going to get the same facelift that the west received at 222nd Street a few years ago.
Lougheed Highway from 226th to 228th streets will get new sidewalks, street furniture, street lights, road resurfacing and urban landscaping, starting this summer.
The cost of the project will be about $1 million.
The work speeds up the Downtown Enhancement Project in order to take advantage of the work underway in front of the new Chances Community Gaming Centre at 227th Street.
That project requires construction of a new intersection at that street, connecting the downtown with the houses below.
“The gateway effect is important on the west side,” said Darrell Denton, with Maple Ridge’s economic development.
“What we’re trying to achieve is when you come into town from the west side, it’s different. You get a sense you’re in a different place when you’re in the downtown, when you hit 222nd Street.
“Same thing when you’re coming up from Telosky Stadium. It becomes a natural progression into the downtown.
“It builds on council’s goals for the downtown of pedestrian walkability, driving incremental customers and visits and enhancing the street experience.”
Another goal Downtown Enhancement Project is to increase the livability of the town centre, supporting business growth and encouraging investment.
Once the project is completed sometime this fall, much quicker than the previous downtown projects, only the gap on Lougheed Highway between 224th and 226th streets will need renovation.
The sidewalk in front of the Valley Fair Mall is fairly new, so it won’t have to be replaced.
The project includes improving underground sewer and water lines at the same time, so the road won’t have to be dug up later.
The resulting street scape will have the same look as now exists between 222nd and 224th Streets.
“It’s pretty cool,” Mayor Ernie Daykin said.
The new road, though, won’t have any bike lanes because of space limits, he added, and that the district wants to get cyclists off Lougheed.