Drivers will soon have a new way of accessing Pine Centre Mall and the businesses and organizations along Recplace Drive.
A crew is in the process of building a "clear, modern, and serviceable road connection" from Recplace Drive to the parking lot behind Lowe's Home Improvement at the Mall, city hall said Monday.
The extension will also provide a new way to reach the the Roll-a-Dome, Prince George Tennis Club, Prince George Golf and Curling Club, the Prince George Playhouse, as well as the commercial area between Recplace Drive and Highway 16 West.
"Once completed, the operation is also expected to reduce congestion on adjacent highway ramps," the city added.
As part of the project, new watermains are being installed, including to Massey Drive and then under Highway 16 to the lot of the Treasure Cover Casino. The watermain will then extend from the casino under Highway 97 to the other side of the highway.
Cost of the work is estimated at just under $3 million with the majority of the money coming from the city's water reserve and about $300,000 from the roads reserve. Primarily an effort to install watermain extensions, the city is using the opportunity also to install the driveway.
Both projects are slated to be completed by the fall.