With paving through the Victoria Street West project completed, the Executive Director of the KCBIA says it will be beneficial for members.

“It’s a new opportunity, a new pathway I guess to get from the North Shore. Not to steal Jeremy [Heighton’s] business, but people want to come downtown as well,” said Carl DeSantis. “It’s a gateway. It’s a really nice gateway between the North Shore and downtown.”

Speaking on the NL Morning News, DeSantis says he understands the concerns about the disruption from some of the businesses in the area.

“I don’t experience it personally, I’ve heard some comments from some of the people coming downtown that yeah, there has been disruption. But [the work] is required, it’s necessary, and I think the community as a whole understands that.”

DeSantis says some of the affected businesses are not KCBIA members, but he is confident they will bounce back now that most of the work in the area has been completed, ahead of schedule.

The city says there is some sidewalk and underground power and communications work still to be done, and they’re not expecting any quality issues with the road given the recent snow in Kamloops.