Vancouver, British Columbia – Two major downtown Vancouver routes will close on Friday in the final phase of the city’s transportation management plan for the Olympic Winter Games.
The city plans to reduce vehicle traffic in the city by at least 30 per cent during the Games, and is asking commuters, delivery drivers and residents to take part in the TravelSmart 2010 Challenge. The challenge helps prepare everyone ahead of time to manage road closures and significantly reduced on-street public parking.
Significant changes in effect this week in Vancouver include:
– Olympic lanes and parking/stopping regulations begin on Thursday, February 4, coinciding with the beginning of athlete training at the venues
– Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts close on Friday, February 5
– Temporary truck routes are now in effect
– Deliveries are permitted downtown 24 hours a day, but the preferred hours are midnight to 6:00 a.m.
– Midlothian Avenue is now closed near the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre at Hillcrest Park
In Whistler, day lots are no longer available for public parking, and vehicle permits will be required to travel north of Squamish as of February 11 between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Travellers are encouraged to book with a commercial motorcoach to get to Whistler; a list of carriers is available at TravelSmart. Service enhancements have also been put in place for Squamish residents, with residency tests applied for access to them.
