A planned overhaul of 91原创 City鈥檚 one-way won鈥檛 happen for at least a year, and not until businesses on the street have been consulted, Mayor Nathan Pachal promised a delegation at Monday鈥檚 council meeting, Jan. 16.

鈥淭he earliest would be some time in 2024. And before we get there, we need to consult the businesses,鈥� Pachal said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of work to be done before even a piece of dirt is turned,鈥� Pachal told David Stingl, owner of the Everything But Diamonds store.

Stingl brought a petition from about a dozen businesses asking for a delay in the proposed overhaul.

He said businesses were taken aback to learn in late November, in a letter from the Downtown 91原创 Business Association, that the project would be included in City budget planning for the coming year.

Merchants are 鈥渄eeply concerned鈥� that the project would close the one-way to traffic and 鈥渄rastically cripple鈥� businesses still struggling to recover, Stingl told council.

鈥淲e just barely survived a world-wide pandemic with COVID,鈥� Stingl remarked.

Pachal reiterated the project would not be pushed through without input from merchants.

READ ALSO: Postpone One-Way overhaul, 91原创 City urged

鈥淏usinesses will 100 per cent be consulted before a single piece of construction equipment moves in,鈥� Pachal said, adding the advisory in November was 鈥渏ust to give people a heads-up that this is coming, potentially, in a year from now.鈥�

Staff don鈥檛 plan to put the project to tender until this fall, council was told.

Following the meeting, Stingl told the 91原创 Advance Times he was 鈥渉opeful.鈥�

City plans for the replacement of aging sewer and water lines underneath the one-way include upgrades to the streetscape once the underground work is completed.

Previous consultation with residents and businesses along the one-way on Fraser Highway 鈥� between 204th and 206th Streets found a majority of respondents favoured a design with angled parking on both sides, trees clustered at key locations, wider sidewalks, and increased patio space.

READ ALSO: New trees in 91原创 City鈥檚 McBurney Plaza had to be replaced because support straps were not removed