Parksville highway renaming plan paused after $2.15 million cost estimate

A proposal to rename parts of Highway 19A and Highway 4A in Parksville, British Columbia, has been put on hold after a city staff report estimated the change would cost businesses, property owners and residents about $2.15 million. The plan was part of a broader trafficcalming effort aimed at making the downtown area more walkable and encouraging throughtraffic to use the inland highway instead. City council had considered renaming Highway 19A to Ocean Boulevard and Highway 4A to Mountainview Boulevard. According to the report, the change would affect 674 addresses, including businesses, homes and public organizations, and would require updates to mail, emergency service databases, signage, bylaws, leases and other records. Council members said the logistical and financial burden outweighed the possible benefits, and the local downtown business association also opposed the idea.