Broadway businesses very anxious as East Broadway block closes for subway work

A one-block closure of East Broadway between Main and Quebec will last about four months for work on the Broadway Subway Project, and local business leaders say owners are anxious and are due to meet the transport minister Tuesday.

Broadway will be closed to vehicle traffic between Main and Quebec for four months starting Monday as work continues on the Broadway Subway Project. The closure is reported to be needed to rebuild the roadway above the future Mount Pleasant SkyTrain station. Local business leaders say the disruption has raised worries that impacts may echo those experienced during the Canada Line construction about 20 years ago. A meeting between Mount Pleasant business owners and the transport minister is scheduled for Tuesday. What is reported: - The one-block closure covers East Broadway between Main and Quebec and is expected to last about four months. - The work is part of the Broadway Subway Project to build the Mount Pleasant underground station. - Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association leaders say business owners are anxious and concerned about financial impacts. - Transport Minister Mike Farnworth is set to meet Mount Pleasant business owners Tuesday, and compensation for affected businesses has not been promised. Summary: The temporary closure is intended to support construction of an underground station but has prompted concerns among local merchants who reference long-term effects from past transit construction. The scheduled meeting with the transport minister is the next public step, while questions about compensation and longer-term impacts remain undetermined at this time.