Three major road closures are planned this week as part of a continuing attempt by the City of Vancouver to reduce traffic leading into the 2010 Olympic Games. CTV News has the details on which routes to avoid come Monday morning.
Commuters hoping to drive down north Renfrew Street this week may want to think twice. The road was closed off on Sunday next to Pacific Coliseum, a 2010 Olympic venue, between McGill and Dundas Streets. On February 1, that closure will extend further south to Hastings.
Area residents like Richard Patton, who was out for a walk on Sunday morning, wonder what the closure will mean for getting around the neighbourhood.
"I understand it's going to be a major lockdown for security and access," Patton said.
But the worst is coming later this week.
On Wednesday, barricades will go up downtown on Waterfront Road and on the sections of Howe, Burrard and Thurlow Streets surrounding Canada Place, another Olympic venue.
And Friday promises to bring the biggest traffic shake-up, when Pacific and Expo Boulevards shut down between Quebec and Nelson Streets to prepare for closures around the BC Place and Canada Hockey Place venues next month.
The roads will remain closed off until the end of the Games on March 1.
"I think people will see a very different city in terms of being able to move around as we get ready for the opening ceremonies," Dale Bracewell, a City of Vancouver engineer, told CTV News.
Olympic organizers have said they want to reduce traffic by 30 per cent leading in to the Games in February.
They are encouraging commuters to take transit, walk, or cycle to work, and to consider changing their work hours to avoid Games peak times of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Feb. 12 to March 1.
"Plan ahead," Bracewell said. "It's really important that we host the world well and allow everyone to move around."
More information about closures and transportation options can be found at the Travelsmart2010.ca website.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart
