City opens new Seawall path near Science World

The City of Vancouver opened a new Seawall path along False Creek Friday, diverting people around an aging section of the Expo Deck near Science World.

In February, the Expo Deck path, directly along the water, was closed after a concerning structural assessment.

The city says the waterfront path will remain closed while it assesses the condition of the “aging Expo Deck structure that supports this segment of the Seawall pathway.”

Originally, pedestrians were rerouted to the sidewalks that are not supported by the Expo Deck, and cyclists were directed to bike lanes on Ontario Street, the curbside southbound lane on Quebec Street, and the pedestrian path on Switchmen Street.

In an update Friday, the city says the new path will accommodate cyclists and pedestrians near — but not too near — to the water.

“The new Seawall connection features two wide, comfortable, and separated side-by-side paths for pedestrians and cyclists. The western half of the new path is asphalt, and the eastern portion over the deck is a compacted gravel surface, similar to the Seawall near Vanier Park,” the city said in a release Friday.

The new path is designed for long-term use, the city says, and “the existing closed area of the deck will not reopen.”

Meanwhile, it says planning for the safe deconstruction of the Expo Deck is underway.

“The City had been planning to close the deck and deconstruct it starting in 2028 as part of a new design for a permanent waterfront park.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim thanked city crews for their work and residents for their patience.

“The Seawall is beloved by Vancouverites, and I am thrilled to see this new path open just in time for summer,” said Sim.