Protesters gathered at the planned construction site of a walkway in Crescent Beach that many residents are against.
Nearly 50 people showed up on Monday morning (March 10), some with posters, others with children and pets, to protest the construction of a pedestrian walkway along Alexandra Street in Crescent Beach. Some are even pursuing an injunction to stop the City of Surrey from conducting the work.
While the city only confirmed that construction would begin early this week, residents were told work would begin first thing Monday morning. The crowd gathered at about 7 a.m., and while some construction was taking place nearby, no work on the walkway had begun as of 8:30 a.m.
"The planned construction by the City of Surrey would profoundly affect our historic neighbourhood. It would create more traffic and make our neighbourhoods less safe. Cars would become the priority rather than pedestrians and cyclists," one protester said while speaking to the crowd.
"I feel that is why we are here today. We want to stand up for continued safety in our community and preservation of our beautiful historic residential neighbourhood."
Many residents are frustrated after they say there was no consultation process with them before the decision for the walkway was made.
City officials have stated that impacted residents were notified of the work last fall. The planned construction includes the removal of "unauthorized constructions" that encroach on the city's road allowance.
According to a corporate report presented to council in April, public engagement included a public meeting on March 13, 2024 that included 124 attendees, a project survey that ran from that same date until April 5, a presentation to the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association and more than 600 postcard mail-out on road allowance education to all properties within the area.
The walkway planned is intended to improve pedestrian access to transit and increase accessibility between bus stops and the beach and be safer for children at Alexandra House to access the beach without having to walk on the road, the city stated last week.
Jolene Laing Funke, one of four homeowners who will be directly impacted by the construction plan, was also briefly present to thank everyone for showing up.
Funke is also one of a few who have obtained a lawyer and are pursuing legal action against the city in order to stop the work from beginning.
"Particularly the folks on Bayview who would benefit the most from whistle cessation vehemently do not want that fence and we have to wake up and listen to them because there's a reason they don't want that fence. It will literally encroach on the road," Funke said, referencing city plans to create a fence along Bayview Street, parallel to the BNSF rail line
Discussions between the city and railway owner BNSF regarding whistle cessation at the McBride Avenue and Beecher Street crossings have been ongoing since 2008.
"Regardless of what happens here today, we have to stick together, keep each other informed," Funke continued.
One of the Bayview residents was also present who shared his frustrations, including how the city's land use plan is "being ignored."
Some protesters began leaving around 8:30 a.m. while many are staying behind to obstruct the planned construction.
- with files from Tracy Holmes
