COLD LAKE - After nearly six months of construction, Cold Lake’s Lakeshore Drive has reopened to motorists, allowing vehicle traffic once again on the popular waterfront road.
As of Nov. 8, the road features one way traffic flow, directing vehicles northbound from the Marina at Clark's General Store, around 2nd Avenue, and onto 10th Street. This redesign aims to enhance safety and efficiency for both drivers and pedestrians, while allowing for future development of park space along the lakeside.
“This has been a huge undertaking,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “Although there is still quite a bit of work to be done, it will be nice to open up the road again.”
Despite the reopening, some construction work will continue, particularly along the lakeside sidewalk, which will remain closed as work progresses.
Wade Friesen, Engineering Technologist for the City of Cold Lake, spoke to Lakeland This Week and elaborated on the need for the redesign, explaining, “Lakeshore Drive has been closed since June of this year during which the road and underground utilities were replaced.”
According to Friesen, the existing road’s narrow layout and close proximity to the lake made it unfeasible to create a two-lane roadway with sufficient parking, prompting the City to opt for a one way design.
“The one way design will increase the safety on Lakeshore Drive by removing the risks of collision previously faced,” Friesen added. “Traffic flow should be impacted very little, as the one-way includes space for on-street parking. The future pedestrian paths in the park space will also increase safety by providing more room for pedestrians.”
New “one way” and “do not enter” signs have been installed to guide drivers and help navigate the new traffic flow. Letters have also been sent to Lakeshore Drive residents informing them about updates to waste collection, snow removal, and other service adjustments in light of the new road configuration.
Friesen noted that construction on the park space is scheduled to continue through summer 2025, with completion anticipated by August.
