With major construction work on the Capital Regional District’s long-awaited wastewater treatment project set to begin in the coming months, the CRD”s project team faced residents in James Bay on Wednesday evening.
More than 150 people packed James Bay New Horizons to get an update on the progress being made, to ask questions and voice concerns about the impact of the project on Dallas Road.
One of the hot topics was a proposal to build a bike lane on Dallas Road along the future sewage pipeline from Ogden Point to Clover Point.
Under the current plan, it would see the loss of more than 60 parking spots.
“I’m very angry,” said one James Bay resident
“It’s very important that people who are elderly who can’t walk or can’t use a bicycle can get to Dallas Road.
“There are lots of people who come down here with friends of theirs who are tourists, they want to get close to the breakwater,” said another.
“There are people who are in wheelchairs and with walkers, I think we have to realize there is a variety of demographics in this city.”
The Deputy Director of the CRD’s wastewater project team says they are holding public meetings to hear those kinds of concerns and will be reporting them back to council.
“We’ve developed a few alternative options that retain angled parking along Dallas Road and we’re interested to hear what people think of those options,” said Elizabeth Scott.
A second public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m the Cook Street Village Activity Centre at 380 Cook Street.
Ben O'Hara
