The City of Prince Albert is getting ready to move forward revitalization of the downtown core. That could included changing traffic flow from one direction to both directions. (Image Credit: Nick Nielsen/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

One way, or another

City council debates two-way traffic downtown as part of revitalization plans  

Mar 24, 2026 | 4:00 PM

The merits of turning Central Avenue in Prince Albert’s downtown core into a two-way street was a big part of council discussion during Monday’s executive meeting.  

Public works and planning department staff presented a general concept to council with the hope of getting the go ahead to call for proposals. The green light was given, but not without a debate on the impact of changing traffic flow on what has been a one-way street for years.  

Making the street bi-directional saves the city money because that plan uses less concrete.  

“In this case, doing two-way, two-lane traffic with parallel parking, that’s the most similar to what we have right now, and it definitely would be the cheapest option of the bunch,” said Capital Projects Manager at Public Works, Evan Hasting. 

Other options include a mix of keeping one way traffic with parallel parking or having angle parking and one or two-way traffic.  

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Councillors were OK with the idea but wanted to hear again from businesses and residents along the impacted street.  

A public meeting will happen prior to the next May 11 council when the decision comes back.  

“The whole goal is to make the downtown more functioning for the businesses where they could have different parklets or utilize the space in front of their business for a patio in the summertime,” said Acting Director of Community Development Michael Nelson.  

To do that, the proposal is to widen the sidewalks, which could mean a narrower street. They also want to change the traffic from one direction that flows north from 15th Street to River Street.  

Parking would remain parallel to the buildings. Nelson said it could be allowable for a business to also use the parking stalls in front of their buildings. One of the goals is to encourage walking in the downtown core.  

They will wait to see what the results of a request for proposals will show.  

“Part of the whole project would be to review the RFP drawings that come back from the consultant. Ultimately, the city has the final say on what the new design is going to be,” said Nelson.  

The budget for Phase 1, which is supposed to happen this year, is $1 million and was part of the regular budget discussions last November.  

At the same time as discussion happens with businesses, the city will start the procurement process for detailed designs and create a dedicated page on their website for the public to keep up to date on the project.  

Phase 2 is set to last from 2028 and 2030 and means the physical construction of the plan, including significant underground work.  

“We do have sections of water and sanitary pipe that are from 1900 and sections of storm from 1906. We have a variety of materials from cast iron to some newer PVC to some clay tile,” said Hastings. 

Central Avenue will need to be dug up, underground water and sewer replaced along with whatever Crown-owned utilities are there.  

Paving, concrete, traffic lights, landscaping, and public transit upgrades are all on the table.  

Staff said that minimizing disruption to businesses along the way is a priority.  

They also said that contingency planning will be crucial given how long it’s been since the street was created.  

“Given the age and unknown condition of underground infrastructure, there is a possibility of encountering unexpected obstacles such as undocumented basements, tunnels, large boulders or historical artifacts,” read the briefing note submitted to council.  

Next year, staff will be coming back to council with another budget request to start the main construction.  

Several councillors said they would prefer to see things move faster and have construction start prior to 2028. 

“I think that the businesses down there are aware that this dig is coming and I think that they’ve been sitting on pins and needles, waiting to see when this was happening. I think that people down there are ready to get this done,” said Coun. Blake Edwards.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com