Road work on Oak Street is forcing speeding cars into neighbourhoods
Construction fatigue is now a reality to Marpole area
By BOB HOMER
As sewer upgrades on Oak Street enter their second year, residents in neighbouring Marpole say they wonder if the continuous disruption to their community is worth it.
Charles Gauthier, a longtime resident of the area, noted that many motorists are avoiding Oak Street due to the construction and rerouting through narrow residential streets.
“Drivers were actually running through the neighbourhood at pretty high speeds,” he said.
Maria Auqui, a traffic controller working in the area, has witnessed motorists driving dangerously.
“Drivers are not being respectful, especially the left turn on Oak from 67th [Avenue],” Auqui said.
The construction aims to replace aging infrastructure with a higher-capacity separated sewer system as part of the city’s 2023-26 capital plan. It covers Oak Street, West 70th Avenue, and Fremlin Street, a key area that links Vancouver to Richmond and Vancouver International Airport. The project, which began in October 2023, is scheduled for completion by spring 2025.
Claire Ryan, a Marpole resident, has witnessed frustrated motorists avoiding congestion by moving traffic cones to pass through blocked streets.
“It was getting turned into an absolute mess,” said Ryan.
The City of Vancouver says it has received approximately 360 complaints related to the project since it began.
Problem bigger than Marpole
Fernando Figueroa, a construction worker involved in the project, pointed to a greater volume of traffic across the Metro Vancouver region.
“Traffic has been increasing all over Metro Vancouver area because the population is growing,” Figueroa said.
At a time when aging infrastructure throughout the city is a major concern, large-scale capital replacement projects are becoming increasingly necessary.
Tracey Rinas, a realtor who works in the area, said residents living in affected neighbourhoods are starting to get frustrated with both drivers and the construction itself.
She said that no one pays much attention when construction projects first begin. “It’s a minor inconvenience and it’s only for a few days, so who cares.”
However, she said residents are feeling construction fatigue. “It’s like it’s every single day, everywhere in the city,” Rinas added.
Not just residents
Vikus Kumar, a manager of a Chevron gas station along Oak Street, says it has been difficult for businesses to stay open during construction as customers have stayed away.
“Things have been slow,” Kumar said.
Despite that, she said she sees an end in sight and is looking forward to the construction wrapping up so businesses can return to normal.
Both Gauthier and Ryan say the upgrades are necessary for the neighborhood’s future growth.
“Personally, it’s an inconvenience to me. It’s certainly annoying to a lot of the parents and everything like that. But like it’s kind of necessary. So I think it’s definitely worth it.” Ryan said.
Gauthier said that the construction is necessary to provide new housing units in the area, but “What we need to do is find a balance.”
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