City releases first draft of plans for post-viaduct Vancouver

The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board havereleased a draft map for the future of False Creek, with over 14 acres ofpark planned for the northeast area and a new street network to replace the existing viaduct.

City councillors voted to demolish the Georgia Viaduct which connects easterly neighbourhoods to the downtown core nearly two years ago.

Officials saidthe spans would be replaced with a sprawling, ground-level road network with green space to fill the gaps. The plan is expected to cost around $200 million.

In theory, two-way traffic would be diverted along a newPacific Boulevard, avoiding the traffic bottleneckscommon on the viaduct.

The proposed roadway has fewer lanes than the existing overpasses, but city officials said that doesn't mean it won't be able to handle the workload.

"It's important to remember that the viaducts only carry about 40 per cent of the capacity they're designed for [each year], so the new network will be more than able to carry all the traffic for the future area," said project director Kevin McNaney, who told CBC he has spent six years looking through technical studies to ensure the roads will be adequate.

The plan'searly draft, unveiled Monday, includes:

• 25.8acres of new and renewed park space (worth around $20 million).
• A new skate park.
• A waterfront pavillion.
• Gardens.
• Waterpark.
• Playground.
• Elevated walkway.

Two new city blocks would also host market and social housing units. The city said it expects the area will be home to up to 12,000 new residents by 2025.

There arealso plans for a walkway along Dunsmuir Street up the 15-metre-grade into Vancouverand an interconnected park designed byJames Corner, creator of the High LinePark in New York City.

The viaductwasoriginally built as part of a proposed larger freeway through East Vancouver in 1971, but plans for a bigger road were tossed as residents protested.

Currently, the city says six per cent of commuter traffic travelling in and outof the downtown core uses the twin spans.

The full draft plan and concept design for the new park will be available to the public at an open house to be held on Carrall Street between Keefer Street and Expo Boulevard onSaturday.

Residents will be able to provide feedback at that event, which will be relayed to council.

Thearea plan will be brought to council before the end of the year for approval.