Old Strathcona ready for reopening with expanded sidewalks and sitting areas

Expanded sidewalks are being installed along Edmonton’s Whyte Avenue again as Old Strathcona reopens, but works to keep patrons safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know our sidewalks get very busy,” Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, told 630 CHED Mornings with Daryl McIntyre on Thursday.

“We saw crowding, which is something we are very, very concerned about last year. And we know that that folks are still nervous about that.”

To help provide more space for pedestrians, the parking lane on both the north and south side of the avenue has been closed and water barriers are being installed to keep patrons safe from traffic.

This year, the extended sidewalks run between 103 and 105 streets, as well as outside the Roots on Whyte and Raymond Block buildings on 102 and 105 streets.

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“We’ll put in some interesting seating — different than than we had last year — to really just make that extra space to support expanded patios, but also to support physical distancing,” Klassen said.

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The OSBA conducted surveys with adjacent businesses as well as with the public on the expanded sidewalks program in 2020 and said nearly 100 per cent of people supported the return of the program.

“Last year, the parking and vehicle lanes provided a great way to avoid overcrowding and for pedestrians to walk safely-distanced,” Roberta Taylor, manager of Village Goods, said in a Thursday news release on the project.

“We love seeing people, and with nowhere safe to walk we do know that crowding has kept some of our regular shoppers away from the area.”

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5:08 Positive outlook for Whyte Avenue area says business association

Part of the funding for the expanded sidewalks program was provided by the Edmonton Economic Recover Grant from the City of Edmonton.

The installation is expected to be complete by Friday.