This Saturday, 10 blocks of West 4th Avenue will be closed to car traffic. But you won't hear any of the businesses complaining. That's because 100,000 people are expected to converge on West 4th for the Khatsahlano music festival.
When the festival crowds clear, however, the business owners will enjoy watching the cars and trucks pass by unimpeded.
For months, vehicular traffic along the popular shopping district was complicated by the presence of municipal crews upgrading the sewers and other infrastructure. Roads were torn up, delays were frequent and drivers tended to avoid the area.
Today, representatives of the West 4th BIA, the mayor's office and Brand Live gathered to applaud the early completion of the work, just in time for the July 13 music and street festival.
"West 4th is open for business and better than ever," Mayor Gregor Robertson declared.
The street is one of the city's gems, "a fantastic place for people to shop and enjoy," he said, adding that 200 city personnel were involved in the infrastructure projects.
"There's no question it was difficult for businesses but the city's team was fantastic," said West 4th BIA president Susan Braverman. Businesses were kept informed and the work was seamless, not to mention completed ahead of schedule. Promised that the new projects will serve the busy neighborhood well for the next 100 years, she smiled when she said they'd hold the city to it.
The completed roadwork paves the way for an incredibly busy Khatsahlano Festival, when 50 bands will perform on 10 stages on the 10 blocks from McDonald to Burrard.
Grant McDonagh, the owner of Zulu Records, remembers when the festival was called Hippy Days and was a much more laid-back but still very musical event.
And the bands he wants to make sure to watch? The Pack AD, Gold & Youth, Rick Hope, Portage & Main and Evy Jane.
For more information on the festival go to Khatsahlano.com. For information on businesses along West 4th go to ShopWest4th.com.
The West 4th infrastructure project included
15 blocks of new separated storm and sanitary sewer mains
3 blocks of new water main and service connections
18 blocks of road restoration and curb-to-curb paving
sidewalk and curb rehabilitation, bus pads and wheelchair ramps
