FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – April 2, 2026. The City of Port Alberni is preparing for significant redevelopment work on Argyle Street from Harbour Road to 3rd Avenue, with construction beginning September 2026. This critical infrastructure project will replace aging underground water, sewer, and storm systems, and deliver above-ground improvements to accessibility, safety and the look and feel of this vital corridor.
Originally slated for project commencement in spring 2026, the work has been pushed to September 2026 to ensure local businesses are able to maximize the economic opportunity of the busy summer season.
“We recognize construction can be disruptive to residents and businesses,” said Mayor Sharie Minions. “Given the economic challenges in recent years, it was important to the City to consider this delay to reduce those impacts. City staff will work directly with businesses and residents to provide advance notice of work and minimize construction disruptions as much as possible.”
The Argyle Street corridor between 1st to 3rd Avenue was identified by City Council as a strategic priority area for redevelopment and enhancement in 2019. The design was initiated and approved in 2025 and includes many upgrades and features.
Most urgently, the project will address the need to separate the combined sewer overflow system in the area and meet the City’s commitment to reduce overflow events, bringing significant environmental benefits from this work. This redesign will also create a more unified sense of place for residents, visitors and businesses in the corridor.
The project scope includes:
- Replacement of aging underground water, sewer, and storm infrastructure.
- Separation of combined sewers to improve system capacity and reduce environmental risk.
- Installation of multimodal travel lanes to support cycling, walking, and accessible transportation (including a link to the Quay-to-Quay Pathway).
- Enhanced pedestrian safety features, including curb bump outs and improved crossings.
- Addition of new street trees and landscaping to create a greener, more vibrant corridor.
- Underground relocation of BC Hydro services to reduce visual clutter.
- Placemaking and streetscape enhancements designed to create a more welcoming and vibrant public space.
- Conversion of on‑street parking from angled to parallel to meet modern parking standards, with additional angled parking being added to nearby streets to ensure no net loss of parking stalls.
“Once the work is complete, residents will immediately notice the many benefits of this new redesign including the upgrading of core infrastructure and creation of a street that feels safer, greener, and more inviting,” said Jim Macdonald, Director of Infrastructure Services. “We heard early on that parking matters, and the final design ensures no net loss by adding stalls on nearby streets.”
The Argyle Street Redevelopment Project represents a major investment in Port Alberni’s uptown core. In June of 2025, City Council approved $6.375 million to fund this critical infrastructure work. The project is now expected to come in approximately $1.3 million under budget. This estimate may change during the course of construction due to fluctuating material costs, inflation, and unforeseen conditions encountered during excavation.
For more information, please visit: www.letsconnectPA.ca/Argyle-Street-Redevelopment
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Communications City of Port Alberni |