10th Avenue construction begins November 6

The City of Vancouver’s 10th Avenue Corridor Project is set to begin Monday, November 6. Access to all health facilities will be maintained throughout the project; however, construction of street safety improvements will affect commuters using West 10th Avenue between Oak and Cambie.

Construction schedule

  • November 6, 2017 to June 2018
  • Monday to Friday: 7 am – 5:30 pm (when necessary, up to 8 pm on weekdays and/or on weekends)

Travel impacts

Traffic control personnel will be on-site to help commuters reach their destination and locate suitable parking, when needed.

If you’re driving

  • 10th Avenue will be one-way eastbound from Oak Street to Willow Street.
  • Partial street closures will be required as work progresses.

If you’re walking or cycling

  • The street will remain open at all times for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • At select times, cyclists will be asked to dismount in the construction area.

Safety improvements

Enhanced pick-up and drop-off areas for patients and clients are among the safety improvements planned for West 10th Avenue.

The project is designed to improve patient safety and access, while improving the safety, comfort and accessibility for all modes of transportation along 10th Avenue. Key safety improvements include:

  • enhanced pick-up and drop-off areas for patients and clients, including 12 new passenger-loading zone and vehicle-staging spaces
  • 10 new disability parking spaces
  • raised crosswalks and intersections
  • measures to separate road users
  • enhanced lighting and wayfinding

In other transportation news

If you’re working on the VGH campus on Saturday, November 4, please note that 10th Avenue between Oak and Laurel will be closed to vehicles from 7:30 am to 3 pm. During the closure, alternating bike traffic and pedestrian access will be maintained when it’s safe to do so.

The road closure is necessary to protect everyone’s safety while work is underway to install a new cooling tower at the Jack Bell Research Centre.

Learn more

  1. Sue Lee

    I will cross my fingers that the crosswalk outside of VGH Emergency will be well marked and adequately lit and that cyclists will respect and obey!

    I have observed near disasters in this area at all times of day/night for several years but especially now that this is a designated cycling route. The crosswalk is currently pitch black after dark. Frail elderly patients, patients on crutches, patients with mental health issues or addictions all crossing the road with cyclists screaming by…

    I remain hopeful that all this has been adequately thought through and addressed!

    November 6, 2017
  2. mary ann

    I can not believe that my employer has not stood up against this poorly thought out road work. The impact on the frail elderly/ disabled and their care givers is understated by all parties pushing this agenda.

    Would you be comfortable dropping your elderly relative, with cognitive impairmen,t off at the eye care center while you went to find a parking spot 3 blocks away? The staff at the reception do not have time to be keeping an eye on everyone that is dropped off.

    I would suggest that healthy bicyclists could detour to West 7th for this stretch of West 10th to ensure people can get to their appointments at the eye care centre or the arthritis center or any other of the medical clinics on West 10th without adverse impact.

    I objected to City Hall when this was first proposed, then recently to Premier Horgan.

    We need VCH to be advocating for the needs of the frail elderly and the disabled attending appointments on West 10 before a traffic nice to have.

    November 2, 2017
    • Michelle de Moor

      Thank you for your comment, Mary Ann.

      VCH participated in months of extensive consultation to ensure that the needs of patients, clients and visiting loved ones were paramount in the final design of the W. 10th corridor and during construction. PHSA and representatives for seniors and people with disabilities also participated in discussions.

      When complete, the W. 10th between Oak and Cambie will feature several new safety improvements that will enhance patient/client access and safety on the VGH campus, as well as improve safety for all road users:

      • enhanced lighting and wayfinding
      • raised crosswalks and intersections
      • 12 new passenger pick-up and drop-off zones
      • 10 new disability parking spaces
      • measures to separate road users

      The city has also committed to improving nearby bike routes on 7th and 14th Avenues to provide attractive alternatives for cyclists who aren’t destined for the VGH campus.

      As noted in the article, traffic control personnel will be on-site to help commuters reach their destination and locate suitable nearby parking during construction. A comprehensive parking map for patients/clients will be available soon and we are recommending all patients and clients plan ahead and allow extra time to arrive at their next appointment.

      November 7, 2017