Prince George, B.C. – Motorists and pedestrians alike will want to take note of activity in and around city streets this week. The most  significant being a change in traffic flow on 4th Avenue.

Motorists should be sure to check traffic signs and new traffic signaling. Eastbound  traffic at Winnipeg will be  down to one lane in that direction, while Westbound traffic on 4th will have to  turn left or right at  Winnipeg Street as  4th remains one way  from that point to 5th.

Pedestrians will note changes to the sidewalks at the Brunswick, Quebec and Dominion intersections and traffic signal upgrades at the Dominion and Queensway crossings.

Paving on Sommerville Road is expected to be completed today, while paving on Chief Lake Road, from Sparrow Rd. to Hwy 97begins early this week and should be completed by Friday.

Planter boxes on 3rd Avenue have been identified as areas of high criminal activity, so the city will be eliminating those boxes on 3rd between George and Dominion Streets starting this week. Existing trees will remain.

“The planters on 3rd Avenue between George St and Dominion St have become a point of loitering, providing individuals with a place to conceal drugs, drug paraphernalia and other contraband,” said Brad Anderson, Acting Officer in Charge, Prince George RCMP. “As they have become a danger to the community as a whole, the Prince George RCMP has requested and fully supports the removal and reconfiguration of them.”

Work is expected to be completed by the end of the week if the weather co-operates.

Last week Millennium Park at First and George  was overhauled for the same reasons.  Trees  removed  as was the berm , all in an effort to make the  area less  attractive for  criminal activity.

The stairs leading up Connaught Hill from Patricia Boulevard are closed for maintenance.  Crews will be cleaning, preparing and painting both the stairs and the light posts in Connaught Hill Park over the next two weeks. While the stairs are closed, Connaught Hill Park remains open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.