Drivers and pedestrians in Regina’s downtown core are being warned of new lane and sidewalk closures.

The city says crews are moving onto a new phase of the Victoria Avenue infrastructure and beautification project, affecting areas between Albert and Smith Streets.

Acting Director of Roadways and Transportation Chris Warren says this will affect driving lanes and  pedestrian traffic. “The sidewalks in between Albert Street and Smith Street on Victoria Avenue on the south side are closed. The sidewalks on the north side, in front of City Hall, and east of there are open, however at McIntyre Street the sidewalks are closed between Albert Street.”

Warren says this phase of the project should last about three weeks. “At that point we would move our crews to the north side of Victoria Avenue and complete that final concrete and utility work there. At that time the south side of Victoria would be used for the traffic restrictions and the sidewalk would be accessible at that time as well.”

This phase of the project should only take about three weeks, but the whole 2019 phase won’t be done until the fall.

“With our current schedule we are looking to have the concrete, signal lights and underground infrastructure completed by the end of September,” says Warren. “Then we would have our paving crews come in there and complete that project within a weeks time, so we are looking at the probably the first week of October to be complete on this project.”

This $6-million, multi-year project aims to improve  intersections including larger curbs, new boulevards, updated traffic signals and enhanced street lighting.

The city says phase two will be worked on in 2020.