The Town of Creston is providing an update to residents regarding Cedar Street and the Creston Valley Housing Corporation’s Cedar Street development site.
The Town permitted the temporary closure of Cedar Street while utility and infrastructure work associated with the development was underway. The closure provided a safe working area for contractors while water, sanitary sewer, stormwater and FortisBC electrical distribution infrastructure was rerouted and upgraded in the area.
While the Cedar Street development is being undertaken by the Creston Valley Housing Corporation (CVHC), the work also provided the Town with an important opportunity to complete significant upgrades to municipal infrastructure in the surrounding area.
In addition to the infrastructure required specifically to service the CVHC development, the Town undertook improvements to the sanitary sewer and stormwater management systems to provide capacity for future growth. Further south on 16th Avenue, the Creston Valley Community Housing Society is also developing an 18-unit housing project that will add additional demand to these municipal systems.
Rather than limiting the work to the immediate servicing needs of the Cedar Street project, the Town took a long-term approach. Municipal infrastructure installed and upgraded through this work was designed with the anticipated growth of the area in mind, with the objective of providing infrastructure capacity for the next 100 years of development.
This approach allowed the Town to coordinate necessary work with the housing project while making a broader investment in the infrastructure that supports the surrounding neighbourhood and future development.
With this phase of work now substantially complete and the immediate construction hazards removed, the temporary site fencing will be taken down until major construction activity resumes at the property.
Before Cedar Street can fully reopen, Town crews are completing stormwater catch basin connections to the new infrastructure leaving the property. Cedar Street is expected to reopen to vehicle traffic on Monday, November 9, once that work is complete and the street can be safely reopened.
Residents should be aware that portions of the roadway and sidewalk will remain uneven as a result of the utility and infrastructure work. These are temporary conditions. Full restoration of the affected road and sidewalk areas will be undertaken in conjunction with construction of the Cedar Street development.
The Town asks motorists and pedestrians to use additional care in the area and appreciates the community’s patience while the site remains in this interim condition.
When major construction resumes, anticipated in the spring, the Town may again temporarily close Cedar Street if required to support construction activity and maintain a safe work area. Notice of any future closure will be provided when construction scheduling and traffic management requirements are confirmed.
The Town appreciates the patience and understanding of residents, neighbouring property owners and motorists throughout this work. The upgrades completed represent not only an important step toward supporting new housing in Creston, but also a long-term investment in the municipal infrastructure needed to accommodate growth in this area for generations to come.