East Grand Boulevard
West Grand Boulevard
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The existing separated bike lane on West Grand Boulevard will be upgraded to improve physical separation from vehicles with a concrete median to replace existing delineators.
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New street lighting will be added along the east side of the street, improving comfort and visibility for all users at all times throughout the year.
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Intersection improvements to enhance safety for all users at East 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th Streets.
East 17th Street
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The East Grand and East 17th Street intersection will be upgraded with a pedestrian crossing beacon to improve safety for everyone crossing the street.
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New street lighting will be added along the south side of the street, improving comfort and visibility for all users at all times throughout the year.
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Curb extensions with accessible ramps at the intersections with Rufus Ave and E Grand Boulevard for improved safety. There is no loss of on-street parking as these extensions are within the required setback from the intersection. The street will see no major changes, but will have bike route symbols painted on the roadway and signage added to the street to support wayfinding.
East 19th Street
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Intersection adjustments at East 19th and West Grand Boulevard to better align the crossing and improve the visibility for people walking and cycling. There is no loss of on-street parking as a result of this change.
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Widened pathways on both sides of the street for people traveling to/from Boulevard Cres and the multi-use path going to Sutherland Secondary School.
Crosscut Bridge Connection
Wayfinding
Download the Eastside Connector Project Scope Map to learn more. Note, the Eastside Connector project is not related to a proposal for future expanded park space at West Grand Boulevard between East 13th and 15th Streets. For more information on that project, visit the Ray Perrault Park Expansion page.
Connecting North Shore Community
The Eastside Connector belongs to a series of projects coordinated between the City and the District of North Vancouver to deliver pedestrian and cycling network improvements approaching the Crosscut Bridge.
Together, the Eastside Connector, Crosscut Bridge and Kirkstone Park cycling route (DNV), provide a comfortable alternative to Lynn Valley Rd for people walking and rolling between key destinations like Sutherland Secondary School, employment hubs and services in the City, and the Lynn Valley Town Centre.
Download the Eastside Connector Route Map.
Meeting Changing Community Needs
Mobility needs in the Grand Boulevard neighbourhood have changed over time:
- 2016: The Green Necklace was completed in Grand Boulevard
- 2016-2020: A growing number of people began using the bike paths for walking, resulting in conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists
- 2020: Pathways in the Park became dedicated to people walking, while cyclists were moved to a new bike route on West Grand Boulevard to reduce conflicts and give everyone a safe space to move
Over recent years:
- City data has shown a steady increase in cycling volume, with average daily cyclist traffic around Grand Boulevard exceeding peak demand experienced during COVID-19
- The North Shore has experienced rapid growth in the popularity of e-bikes and other e-mobility devices, meaning more people are relying on faster-moving devices to get around, further highlighting a need to separate people walking and rolling
- Once open, the Crosscut Bridge will generate even more pedestrian and cyclist activity on the corridor by making it easier and more comfortable to travel between the Lynn Valley Town Centre, Central Lonsdale and beyond
The Eastside Connector project is designed to meet these changing community needs and improve mobility options to better reflect demand, while maintaining separation of cyclists and pedestrians for everyone’s safety, comfort and enjoyment.
Construction is expected to begin in May 2026, with completion anticipated by September 2026.
During construction, the City anticipates temporary minor construction impacts along West Grand Boulevard and East 17th Street, and temporary parking and driving lane restrictions.
Impacts also include the temporary removal of some boulevard plants. If there are any direct landscaping impacts in the Boulevard, staff will reach out to residents directly to coordinate repair. No trees will need to be removed.
Construction will occur in phases to reduce impact on community, and City staff will work with contractors to confirm an efficient construction schedule that minimizes local disruptions. For active construction projects, visit cnv.org/Roadwork.
Notifications
If your home or business is directly within a construction area, you will receive advance notice with details on what impacts to expect in your area during work, including the construction schedule. On-site signage will also be installed to indicate construction locations.
The Eastside Connector works were recently tendered and the project awarded with a construction cost of $2.7M. The costs include operational, safety and infrastructure upgrades which will benefit all modes of transportation.
- $1M for two new traffic signals on East Grand Blvd at 13th and 15th Streets to improve traffic flow for people driving and riding transit on East Grand Blvd – helping to reduce the attraction to short-cut on local streets;
- $400k for a multi-use path connecting the Crosscut Bridge to the street network through Loutet Park;
- $800k for lighting on West Grand Blvd and 17th Street to improve comfort and visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at all times throughout the year; and
- $500k for improvements to cycling infrastructure on West Grand Blvd to formalize the bi-directional bike lane
With generous support from TransLink’s Local Government Funding Programs, the City’s cost of construction is expected to be approximately 30% of overall costs.
Why build the Eastside Connector now?
The Eastside project is one part of an active transportation corridor identified as a priority in the City’s Mobility Network Project that connects Lynn Valley, Central Lonsdale and the Marine-Hamilton neighbourhoods.
The City and District have been coordinating on the delivery of network improvements approaching the Crosscut Bridge (Previously the Casano-Loutet Overpass), scheduled to open in summer 2026. The Eastside Connector is being built now to ensure there is a clear connection for pedestrians and cyclists wanting to travel between Grand Boulevard and the Crosscut Bridge.
In combination, the Eastside, Crosscut and Kirkstone Park cycling route (DNV) provide a comfortable alternative to Lynn Valley Road for people walking and rolling between key destinations like schools, services and employment hubs in the City and across the North Shore. This project is also part of TransLink’s Major Bikeway Network, a network of safe and comfortable cycling facilities connecting urban centres and major destinations across Metro Vancouver.
Future phases of investment will extend infrastructure improvements on this corridor to Central Lonsdale and the Marine-Hamilton neighbourhoods.
Why invest in (more) cycling infrastructure on West Grand Boulevard?
In 2016, the Green Necklace was completed within Grand Boulevard Park with a meandering centre pathway for pedestrians and unidirectional off-road cycling adjacent to East and West Grand Boulevard. Over the years, pedestrians began using the cycling paths leading to conflicts between users. Efforts to clarify the use of each pathway through signage and pavement markings did not solve the problem. Pedestrians continued to use the cycling paths for a number of reported reasons including offering a more comfortable experience compared the narrow sidewalks on East and West Grand Boulevards and they liked using the pathways as a circuit for running and walking. Today, over 250 walking trips a day are taken on the outside paths.
At the same time more pedestrians were using the bike paths, cyclist volumes were steadily increasing leading to more conflicts. With the growing use of faster moving e-bikes, e-scooters and other e-assisted devices, it is becoming increasingly important to provide separate spaces for people walking and rolling.
To accommodate growing demand and to minimize conflict, all of the pathways within the Park were dedicated for the use of pedestrians in June 2020. The northbound lane on West Grand Boulevard was also closed at that time to accommodate bi-directional travel of cyclists and mobility device users. Residents and visitors of West Grand Boulevard continue to have access to their homes from the laneway and southbound on West Grand with minor adjustments to how drivers approach each block.
Now, the Eastside Connector project seeks to formalize the existing conditions by better separating car and bike lanes with concrete medians, add lighting, and improve intersections.
How will this project improve safety?
Over the years, the popularity of Grand Boulevard Park and the Green Necklace has led to increasing conflicts between users because of pedestrians using cycle paths. To accommodate growing demand and to minimize conflict, the northbound cycle path within Grand Boulevard Park was converted to pedestrian-only path in June 2020. The northbound vehicle lane on West Grand Boulevard was also closed at that time to accommodate bi-directional travel of cyclists and other mobility device users.
The Eastside Connector project seeks to further improve safety by adding a concrete median to separate vehicle and mobility lanes along West Grand Boulevard, adding traffic signals at three intersections along East Grand Boulevard, adding street lighting along West Grand Boulevard and East 17th Street to improve visibility for all road users, improving site lines at several intersections and adding a dedicated multiuse path in Loutet Park to connect the Crosscut Bridge with East 17th Street.
How does this project impact emergency vehicle access?
This project has been reviewed by the City’s Public Safety Department, including a future condition along West Grand Boulevard in which Ray Perrault Park is expanded to meet Grand Boulevard Park, between East 13th and 15th Streets. Combined with the analysis and monitoring of the addition of the bi-directional mobility lane in 2020, when the mobility lane was first implemented, the Eastside Connector project is not expected to impact emergency vehicle access. The installation of new traffic signals on East Grand Boulevard at 13th St and 15th St will improve local network operations for all modes, including emergency response.
Will this project increase traffic congestion?
Heavy traffic on East Grand Boulevard is a result of bottlenecks, particularly at the north and south ends, where vehicles enter and exit East Grand Boulevard from other arterial roads. For example, traffic queuing to merge onto Highway 1 can contribute to bottlenecks along Grand Boulevard. The new traffic signals on East Grand Boulevard at 13th and 15th Streets will improve operational efficiency of this arterial.
What will happen to the softball fields in Loutet Park?
The project team is working to retain park uses within the existing constrained space. Following the completion of the Eastside Connector and Crosscut Bridge projects the north softball diamond will be reinstated. The south softball field and associated fencing will be shifted to the west of its current location by approximately 3 metres to accommodate the new multiuse path that connects the Crosscut Bridge with E 17th St.
How will community input be used for the Eastside Connector?
The Eastside Connector project will follow technical standards, and best practices to ensure routes are safe, accessible, and comfortable for most users. City data shows a steady increase in cycling volume over recent years, with average daily cyclist traffic around West Grand Boulevard even surpassing the high volumes the City experienced when travel restrictions were in place during COVID. These volumes can no longer be safely supported on the cycling paths within the park that were delivered as part of the Green Necklace route in 2016. Further, community engagement has also shown a strong desire to maintain separation of cyclists and pedestrians for everyone’s safety, comfort and enjoyment. Such a separation, when possible, is also consistent with Active Transportation best practices to minimize conflicts. The Eastside Connector is designed to reflect this community feedback and improve mobility and safety along the corridor.
For residents living adjacent to boulevards directly impacted by the installation of street lighting, City staff will work with them to discuss concerns they may have and how construction impacts will be mitigated. Staff and the contractor will work with residents to temporarily remove shrubs and, where necessary, paved pathways that interfere with construction. Once construction is complete, the contractor will work with residents to return the boulevard to pre-construction conditions.
Does this project include the expansion of park space onto West Grand Boulevard between 13th and 15th Streets?
No. The Eastside Connector and Ray Perrault Park Expansion projects are separate initiatives. In 2027, the community will be invited to provide help creating a vision for over 1000m2 of new park space on West Grand Boulevard between East 13th and 15th Streets. This could include adding features like new social seating spaces, court sports and others active recreation facilities, trees and greenery, and wildlife habitat. Closure of the southbound travel lane and parking on West Grand Boulevard between 13th and 15th Streets will only advance after a plan for the space is developed with the community.