A8 - North Shore News - Sunday, November 11, 2012
Mall neighbours in COME for some loud nights TOGETHER for the Holidays
Jeremy Shepherd jshepherd@nsnews.com
NIGHTTIME construction noise will continue on Marine Drive this November and possibly into December as Park Royal construction crews hustle to get the road ready for holiday shoppers.
West Vancouver council voted unanimously Monday, albeit with a few reservations, to exempt construction crews from noise bylaws for 15 nights of construction and demolition work in November and December. Work began on replacing the overpass that connects the two halves of Park Royal across Marine Drive with an at-grade intersection last July. The project was slated to be finished by the end of October, but design changes and difficulty finding equipment for the new traffic signal on Marine Drive have caused delays. The intersection is now set to be operational Nov. 12. The noise bylaw exemption will affect many nearby residents, according to Coun. Nora Gambioli. “There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people living just a few feet away,” said Gambioli, who initially opposed the exemption. “My concern is about residents who live next to this.” Construction crews are scheduled to work from Nov. 13 to Nov. 30, starting at 11 p.m. and finishing at 6 a.m. from Sunday night to Thursday night, according to Park Royal communication co-ordinator Amanda Eaton. The pedestrian bridge is set to be removed Nov. 20. Despite initial resistance, the outnumbered
A NIGHT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IN THE VILLAGE NOV. 15, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Lighting at 7:00 pm sharp The Village at Park Royal Join us as we usher in the holidays with our 2nd annual tree lighting ceremony in The Village. It’s sure to be an evening of warmth and good cheer with live music, hot chocolate and cookie decorating.
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NEWS photo Mike Wakefield
NIGHTIME construction will start at Park Royal this week. Gambioli ultimately voted in favour of the motion. “The overpass has to come down. You can’t knock it down in one or two nights,” said Coun. Craig Cameron. “It would be asinine for (Park Royal) to have a drawn-out process.” “It’s a question of public safety to do it at night,” concurred Mayor Michael Smith. Two councillors pointed out that switching to daytime construction would result in traffic bedlam, forcing thousands of cars onto Keith Road. Construction has already necessitated road closures, including shutting down the four-way stop in front of Shoppers Drug Mart for a few days. Council approved the project last July despite concerns about rush hour traffic clogging Marine Drive. Paving work on Marine Drive, while dependent on weather, is set to start Nov. 29. The work is taking place in conjunction with a planned redevelopment of Park Royal South, including 20 new stores.
COMMUNITY NOTICE
Approved Intersection on Marine Drive at Park Royal set to operate as of November 12 Thank you for your patience and understanding over the last five months while we have been completing construction. We are working hard to ensure that traffic patterns get back to normal in and around Park Royal, just in time to welcome you for Holiday shopping. The approved intersection on Marine Drive at Park Royal will be open and fully operational on Monday, November 12, along with a second intersection within the shopping centre between Home Depot and Extra Foods. Both intersections will provide greater safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. These two intersections, along with improved pedestrian sidewalks, bus priority lanes, new bus shelters and cycling lanes, will enable the community to move around Park Royal and the vicinity in a more efficient and safe manner. Once the intersections go into full signalization, work to remove the west vehicle overpass will take place from November 13 – 21, between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM. Appropriate traffic diversions and traffic management will be in place as needed and the work will occur overnight (Sunday to Thursday nights only). Due to the nature of the work, an elevated level of noise is expected; however, steps will be taken to advance the work schedule as quickly as possible. The pedestrian bridge, which connects pedestrians from the north side of Marine Drive to The Village at Park Royal, will be removed on Tuesday, November 20 between 11 PM and 6 AM. The scope of work involved will require a full closure of Marine Drive with traffic being diverted through Park Royal North and The Village at Park Royal. This Holiday season, our Park Smart program will help traffic flow in and around Park Royal. Some of Park Royal’s initiatives include: · Free Valet Parking Service: Weekends only until the full-time schedule starts in early December – Drop-off zone is located on Park Royal South, just west of The Keg · Park Smart Radio: Tune in to 92.5 FM to find one of our 4,400 parking spaces · Parking Lot Helpers: Watch out for individuals in branded bright yellow jackets, who will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have · Longer Shopping Hours: Starting December 1, so you can have more days available to shop late To learn more, visit parkroyalconnected.com.