In four years, this will look different and include two way traffic rather than the one-way that has been the case since 1963. (Image Credit: Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Greenlight given

Council backs two-way traffic for Central Avenue rebuild

May 12, 2026 | 4:31 PM

Prince Albert city council has approved a plan to restore two-way traffic to Central Avenue as part of a multi-year downtown rebuild that will replace aging underground infrastructure and reshape the street above ground.

The project, approved at Monday’s meeting, will see Central Avenue rebuilt in stages over the next four years, with the city replacing water and sewer lines that are more than a century old.

Coun. Troy Parenteau, whose ward includes downtown, said he strongly supports the project and the shift away from one-way traffic.

“Downtown is the heart of our city and right now, we know that we have some very, very old infrastructure underneath there,” Parenteau said.

“We have two choices: we can dig it up and build it back to something we’re not proud of, or we can dig it up and build it back to something we’re all proud of.”

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Recent data shared by BMI Group, the new owners of the pulp mill, showed downtown recorded 9.4 million visits in 2025, including 700,000 unique visitors.

Speaking recently to the city’s business community, BMI spokesperson Chris Rickett said many of those visits happen during weekday business hours and more work is needed to encourage people to spend leisure time downtown.

The approved design calls for two-way traffic between River Street and 15th Street, parallel parking on both sides of the avenue except in front of City Hall and the University of Saskatchewan campus, and a public plaza between those two buildings.

The plan also includes updated surface features such as street furniture, lighting, trees and other amenities. The Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce backed the rebuild in a letter included in council’s agenda package.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Council backs two-way traffic for Central Avenue rebuild

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