City of Wrenford council approved a plan on Monday, April 15, 2024, to add protected bike lanes along Mercer Street, stretching from Fallsview Road to the Corvid Creek Ravine. The project is part of the city's long-term active transportation network and aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians in the downtown core.
The new lanes will use painted buffers and flexible posts to separate cyclists from vehicle traffic. A road diet will reduce the number of vehicle travel lanes on Mercer Street from four to three during peak hours. This change helps slow down traffic, makes it easier for pedestrians to cross the street, and creates the space needed for the new bike lanes. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024, weather permitting. City engineering crews will work alongside the Wrenford Police Service and Tamsin Valley Public Health to promote safe sharing of the road and educate drivers about the new layout. The project also connects directly to the Tamsin River Trail System, giving cyclists a safer route to the river and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Residents and businesses along Mercer Street will need to plan for temporary lane closures and reduced parking during construction. The city will share updated traffic diversion maps and construction timelines on the Service Alerts page as work gets closer. If you have questions about how the construction might affect your property or daily commute, you can reach out to the Planning and Development team through the city's service request portal.
"We are making Mercer Street safer and more accessible for everyone who walks, cycles, or drives through our downtown," said City Manager Robert Eng. "This project brings us one step closer to a connected, sustainable transportation network for all Wrenford residents."
For more information on active transportation planning and upcoming road improvement projects, visit the Development Applications page.