Crosswalks at 4 intersections on Commercial Drive to be painted with Italian flag

Commercial Drive is about to get a handful of colourful new additions that will provide the area with a further sense of place as Vancouver’s Little Italy district.

FortisBC announced today that it has partnered with the Commercial Drive Business Society to paint new crosswalks at four intersections along Commercial Drive with red, white, and green – the colours of the Italian flag. This public art at all of the intersections will be funded by the company.

The first intersection to receive the new colours will be the intersection of Commercial Drive and East 1st Avenue, where the natural gas utility recently conducted extensive work to upgrade and expand its ageing gas line. The exact locations of the other three installations are still being determined.

The intersection of Commercial Drive and East 1st Avenue. (FortisBC)

This project is intended to be FortisBC’s gesture of appreciation for the area’s patience throughout the summer-long closure of East 1st Avenue between Nanaimo Street and Clark Street to allow for construction.

“It is a privilege to serve this community. By funding these new crosswalks, we would like to say thank you by adding some more colour to an already vibrant community,” said Doug Stout vice-president, market development and external relations of FortisBC, in a statement.

East 1st Avenue fully reopened at the end of August.

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