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Oliver eyeing improved signage and new bike and walking paths in downtown plan

Upgrades, wayfinding signs, wine-themed crosswalks part of beautification project
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A sketched design for what part of the revitalized downtown core of Oliver might look like. (Town of Oliver)

The Town of Oliver will be rolling out signs and information kiosks as part of their downtown beautification and wayfinding plan.

A report on the plan including proposed locations for the signs and kiosks will be presented to town council on Monday, March 14.

The plan, which also focuses on active transportation, includes several proposed projects including improving accessibility in downtown Oliver, new and upgraded sidewalks and paths and potential new cycling routes.

The town would incorporate improved signage with a wayfinding map that would provide details on the travel networks in the town and travel times between key locations by bicycle or walking, for a cost ranging between $64,000 to $134,000 for the kiosks and $114,000 to $160,000 for the pedestrian signage.

READ MORE: Work on next phase of Penticton’s bike lane set for April

Two major bicycle routes are proposed as a part of the plan on Fairview Road and Park Drive, with the Fairview Road lane being upgraded to painted lanes with buffers and protection in both directions.

Those two lanes would serve as the main connector routes to the other cycling routes, including the existing International Hike and Bike Trail, with Station Street and the town’s visitor centre serving as the main hub for the cycling network.

The Station Street and Station Street Plaza project is currently in progress, and work is still required to complete the sidewalks and the curb extensions and pedestrian crossing at the Fairview Road intersection.

READ MORE: Downtown Oliver revitalization kicks off with Station Street upgrades

A new multi-use pathway along the current maintenance access south of Fairview Road, along the Ditch trail (Canal) is listed as another high priority project, which is estimated to cost between $344,000 to $373,000 for the approximately 1.1 kilometre long project.

The visitor center, Triangle Park and the Community Centre would host the wayfinding kiosks and serve as parking areas for visitors to stop and begin exploring downtown Oliver.

In addition to the practical improvements, such as changes to intersections and slopes, several beautification projects are also proposed in the plan.

Some of the projects tap into the community’s reputation as a wine lover’s destination with wine-themed sidewalk crossings at the intersection of Fairview Road and Station Street as well as along Main Street.

The plan also proposes working with store owners to simplify and unify their signage and window displays, as well as splitting the parking space in off-street lots closest to the sidewalk into one half bicycle and motorcycle parking and the other half into a garden bed.

The full plan can be found online at the Town of Oliver’s document centre.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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