The head of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association is urging patience as the City begins roughly six-months of work to replace a sewer main along Lansdowne Street downtown.

Howie Reimer says the project – which is meant to support the densification of the downtown core – is a sign of a growing community.

“With any large project, the engineers do a pretty good job of getting people in and out of places but you might have to wait another five minutes,” Reimer said, on NL Mornings. “Kamloops is not Vancouver where you’re going to be stuck. It is getting busier and our commute times are increasing and that is all part of a growing city.”

“It isn’t the sexiest project out there but it shows that we are growing, and its in the name of progress.”

But Reimer also says while the City has done its best to mitigate the impacts, there are still some businesses owners in the Lansdowne Corridor who are concerned about a lack of parking and access.

“Matt Kachel, the City’s Capital Projects Manager, has done what I believe is some good work,” Reimer added. “Matt actually is going to be speaking at our AGM on May 9, so you can find out what phases are and how things are going to impact and how they’re going to mitigate some of those traffic concerns.”

“There is also some good information on Lets Talk, and if you are at a crossroads or you don’t know who to turn to, certainly you can give me a call at the Downtown BIA and I’ll liaise with the city and find out if we can come up with some solutions.”

Work began this week, with crews expected to wrap things up in November. Kachel told Radio NL crews will begin work at First Avenue and Lansdowne Street and gradually make their way east one block at a time.