PORT COQUITLAM, BC – March 9, 2020…Construction around Port Coquitlam is ramping up as the city pursues its ambitious capital program.

Anyone living or making their way through the community will see signs of the $24.4 million in capital projects taking place this year, bringing improvements to a variety of infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, parks and civic facilities. It’s the first half of the $52.7-million 2020-2021 capital plan that represents Port Coquitlam’s largest one-time investment to date in upgrades to neighbourhood infrastructure such as streets and utilities.

Residents can see what’s planned at www.portcoquitlam.ca/capitalprojects and view project locations and status at a glance using the Capital Project layer in PoCoMAP at www.portcoquitlam.ca/pocomap.

“It’s an exciting time in our city as we make the improvements the community has been asking for, and that will help people get around more safely and easily, enjoy improved recreation and other services, and have a better quality of life,” Mayor Brad West said. “The investments we are making in our infrastructure are all part of our efforts to get the basics right and deliver the core services that matter to our residents.”

New online forms also allow citizens to request sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements, traffic calming measures, cycling and multi-use paths, and local area service projects. They can be accessed through the Infrastructure Planning links at www.portcoquitlam.ca/capitalprojects.

The forms and more detailed webpage content were introduced in February to provide the community with a convenient source of information, and an efficient and formal method for submitting requests.

What’s Coming in 2020

The capital projects for 2020-2021 were carefully considered and selected based on need and available funding. Funding is coming from various reserve accounts, grants received from external funding partners as well as interest savings from the refinancing of debt.

“When you come across construction work happening around Port Coquitlam, you’re seeing our capital planning process coming to life,” said Cllr. Darrell Penner, Council’s designate for public works matters. “Construction can be noisy and disruptive, and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s continued patience. The much-needed improvements to services will be well worth the inconvenience.”

The city’s largest capital project continues to be the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, where new amenities – including the new leisure pool opening Mar. 7 – have been rolling out as construction continues to the end of next year.

Neighbourhood rehabilitation projects account for about half of the 2020-2021 capital plan, with over 10 lane kilometres of road improvements this year along with lane paving, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and related utility upgrades.

Other improvements in 2020 will include:

• Year three of four-year city-wide LED streetlight conversion program,
• A variety of sidewalk, pedestrian safety, cycling and traffic calming projects, including pedestrian flashing beacons, raised crosswalks, speed humps and signage.
• Twenty new bus stop benches, six transit shelters and improved wheelchair access at eight stops,
• Road improvements on Coast Meridian Road, Langan Avenue, Shaughnessy Street, and local roads in the southwest
• Rehabilitation of more than 3.9 kilometres of utility infrastructure,
• Park improvements including Traboulay PoCo Trail resurfacing, field upgrades at four parks, and new playgrounds at Fortress and Settlers Parks,
• Improvements to the PoCoMAP online mapping system,
• A new community garden and a Lions Park Whimsical Garden,
• Portable speed reader units, and
• Replacement of the waterslide stairs at Hyde Creek Recreation Centre.

Design work will also start for a number of projects planned for construction in 2021.

Projects next year will include the final year of LED streetlight replacement along with new streetlight locations, a new lane paving program, playground improvements at Chelsea, Elks, Imperial and Pinemont Parks, tile replacement at Hyde Creek pool, and a variety of neighbourhood infrastructure, school safety, pedestrian safety and traffic calming upgrades.

Stay up to date on Port Coquitlam’s construction projects at portcoquitlam.ca/capitalprojects.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca