The City of New Westminster is forging ahead with work aimed at reopening Front Street to traffic in August.

Front Street has been closed to through traffic since Feb. 1, when the city embarked on work to deconstruct the western section of the Front Street parkade, make improvements to Front Street and build a new Front Street mews. With the parkade deconstruction complete, contractors hired by the city are now working on the road itself.

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“They have removed all the existing asphalt on the truck side, the through road,” said Keith Whitely, the city’s project manager. “What they are doing is removing the road base, which they are replacing with a better quality of road base.”

The city is still aiming to reopen Front Street to vehicles, including trucks, on Aug. 22, Whitely said.

“By that time, they will already be working on the mews portion of it,” he added. “The mews will not be officially completed until late November, early December.”

Sidewalks, asphalt and curb and gutter work along the mews is expected to be done by October, but landscaping and finishing work will follow.

Part of the City of New Westminster’s vision for the waterfront includes improving connectivity between the downtown and the riverfront – in part by removing a portion of the parkade. The mews will feature wider sidewalks, street furniture and trees, lighting, traffic calming and angled parking in front of local businesses.

While Front Street has been closed to through traffic, motorists have still been able to access local businesses via Frontage Road, the narrow road running in front of businesses.

Whitely said the city continues to meet with Front Street residents and businesses to keep them apprised about the project.