Construction is set to begin on the first phase of Kitchener’s downtown cycling grid.
Running until Sept., construction will add protected bike lanes on portions of Joseph, Water and Queen streets, as well as new speed limits and wayfinding on several quiet neighbourhood streets.
Construction will take place a couple of blocks at a time to minimize disruptions, beginning on Joseph Street. Access to businesses will remain open at all times.
Protected bike lanes on Joseph Street will create a trail-like experience parallel to the LRT and connect to the future transit hub through a trail at the back of the university lands past Victoria Street. A section of Joseph Street will be converted to one-way vehicle traffic, between David and Victoria streets.
A short connection between the end of Joseph Street and a neighbourhood bikeway on Church Street will allow cyclists to reach the east end of downtown and destinations like the Kitchener Market using Church Street.
Neighbourhood bikeways are quiet, local streets that can be enjoyed by cyclists without designated space. Reduced speed limits of 40 km/hour and enhanced wayfinding signage will be installed on portions of Breithaupt Street, Maynard Avenue, Chapel Street, Lancaster Street, Church Street, Madison Avenue, Benton Street, Water Street, David Street, Stirling Lane, and Pandora Street.
The second phase of construction for the downtown cycling grid will take place in 2022, including Cedar Street, Margaret Avenue, Otto Street and Ontario Street.
The downtown cycling grid was identified by the city in its 2019-2022 Strategic Plan as one of the ways it can realize its goal of providing people-friendly transportation options.