Coquitlam residents in the Hockaday neighbourhood are urging City Council to address safety, access, and communication issues linked to the Coquitlam Water Main Project.
In a presentation to the council on September 8, long-time resident Val Karpinsky will outline issues caused by the project, including speeding on detour routes, restricted vehicle access, and poor communication with residents. Karpinsky said the goal is to provide constructive feedback and propose practical solutions to reduce the project’s impact on daily life.
A community survey conducted over the Labour Day weekend gathered 45 responses. Residents reported near-miss incidents with vehicles, long delays leaving and entering the neighbourhood, and stress caused by unpredictable detours.
One resident said, “During the detour period last time, we lost, every day, about 35–45 minutes just to get out and get in our street, El Casa Court, from Pipeline Road.” Other complaints included excessive noise and dust, property damage, confusing traffic flow, and ineffective control by traffic personnel.
Some highlighted the dangerous westbound merger lane from Pipeline Road onto David Avenue and the reduction of public transit service along the corridor. Several residents said that speed limits were frequently ignored, with cars exceeding 60 km/h on El Camino Drive. “It’s just a matter of time before a car collides with one,” one respondent warned.
Residents are calling for the city to advocate more strongly with Metro Vancouver and contractors to install traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, and to improve communication. Karpinsky also asked the council to create an advisory group made up of city staff, Metro Vancouver, contractors, and residents to provide feedback on project activities and future phases.
Poco city. Coquitlam city. They dont care. Contractors dont care. They just do their job with no cocern for any impact on residents. Wont change. Will never change
Put in traffic circles to replace 3 and 4 way stops. Safer.