Hamilton
,
ON
–
May 14, 2012
– On Tuesday, May 22nd Hamilton’s Public Works Department will begin work on the south leg of King Street East between James and Hughson Streets. The work is part of a pilot project to create a temporary pedestrian-only space for one block on King Street East adjacent to Gore Park.
Large planter boxes will be placed at Hughson and James to prevent motorists from entering the pedestrianized space, however emergency and delivery vehicles will be permitted to access the area. A raised crosswalk will be constructed centre-block to facilitate a barrier-free pedestrian connection between the park space and the storefront sidewalk. A special street paint product will also be applied to the road surface to mimic future pavement.
All businesses will remain open during construction. Pedestrian access along the south sidewalk of King Street East will be maintained, however the road will be closed during construction.
The work is expected to be completed by early July, at which time the Downtown BIA’s annual Gore Park Summer Promenade will animate Gore Park with artisan and food vendors as well as local entertainment. The temporary road closure will continue until late summer.
The pilot project is one preliminary part of a comprehensive master plan for the Gore area. The relocation of City buses from the south leg of King Street east to the new MacNab Transit Terminal was also a key component of the Master Plan. These initiatives were recommended as part of the Downtown Transportation Master Plan Review (2008).
The purpose of the pilot project is to evaluate the success, acceptance, and function of pedestrianizing the area before implementing a permanent closure in the future. For more information about the Gore Master Plan, please visit www.hamilton.ca/las