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Burnaby eyes $4 million first phase to fix dangerous stretch of Marine Drive

Area missing sidewalks and street lighting
sidewalks marine drive burnaby
Many parts of Marine Drive are dangerous for pedestrians.

Perhaps the most dangerous stretch of road in Burnaby for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists is inching closer to getting fixed as council decides on approving more than $4 million as part of a larger project.

Council is being asked to approve at Monday’s meeting a contract for an estimated total cost of $4,185,600 for road work on Marine Drive from Boundary Road to Greenall Avenue.

Marine Drive has been the subject of many complaints from residents because of a lack of sidewalks, street lighting and more.

“The project scope includes road upgrades to the following components: sidewalk, urban trail, curb and gutter, street lighting, and a controlled pedestrian crossing,” reads a city staff report.

The upgrades also include watermain replacement and the Kaymar crossing replacement on Marine Drive from Boundary Road to Greenall Avenue.

This project is part of a larger plan the city has for Marine Drive from Boundary Road to Patterson Avenue and from Sussex Avenue to Byrne Road with a budget of nearly $7 million, according to a previous city staff report.

According to a city statement issued to the NOW in May 2019, this is a “very complex” project, with about 3.7 kilometres of work needed.

“It’s an area with steep grades on both sides of Marine Drive – hills to the north side along Sussex and Gilley, for instance, can give you a sense of the terrain,” said a statement from the city.

The city is calling the Marine project adding an “urban trail” on the north side of Marine and a new sidewalk on the south side, meaning “there will be the need for retaining walls in many areas and re-grading of driveways.

“It’s also a major east-west traffic connector, so we’re looking at phasing the project in a way that minimizes traffic impacts.”

This will be a “high-impact project,” says the city and so extensive public consultations are planned.

“The current estimate for the project is seven years and may be subject to change as the city works through the design stage to seek opportunities to expedite the project,” said the statement.