Work is underway to convert Fourth Avenue downtown from one-way to two-way traffic.
Downtown Prince George and the City of Prince George hope the change will also help transform the retail environment along the main downtown route. Currently four storefronts in the stretch between Victoria Street and George Street are vacant, and another business has indicated it will be closing.
"Designing streets for people is extremely important," Downtown Prince George executive director Carla Johnston said. "There are fewer empty storefronts on Third [Avenue] than on Fourth [Avenue.] I fully expect than when Fourth Avenue looks like Third Avenue, you'll see more people on Fourth Avenue."
The $400,000 project will reduce the number of lanes from three to two, slowing traffic and making the street more pedestrian-friendly.
"It slows the traffic down," Johnston said. "Cars go barreling down there as fast as they can."
The conversion will include increased sidewalk space at the Brunswick, Quebec and Dominion street intersections, and traffic light upgrades at Dominion Street and Queensway intersections.
director of planning and development Ian Wells said the project was identified as a priority in the Official Community Plan.
"Overall it will make it more pedestrian-friendly and [provide] better access for business," Wells said. "I think it [will be] a significant benefit. We saw the benefits along Third Avenue."
