VIDEO: Downtown Kelowna is about to transform

With the transformation of Bernard Avenue from a traffic thoroughfare into a pedestrian mall just a few days away, a sense of excitement is building.

Patios will soon be stretching onto what is currently a traffic lane. The barricades go up Monday, and a lot of people can't wait to see it.

"I think it's a fantastic idea," said one young man. "It'll get people back into the downtown corridor," said another. "I think it will give us a great sense of community," added a woman strolling Bernard today.

Dave Willoughby of Doc Willoughby's can't wait. "I think it's going to be a great opportunity for a lot of businesses," he said. "I think it's going to be a really nice boulevard for people to walk up and down and enjoy the patios."

"The feeling is positive," said the president of the Downtown Kelowna Association. Mark Burley said it's not just restaurants and pubs that will be taking advantage of the new space.

"Some businesses have registered to bring their wares out, like the retail sector. What we're really looking forward to is all the eyeballs that are going to be on everybody's business," he said.

So far, 24 businesses have registered to take advantage of the added patio space, that will be available to them.

Bernard will be closed to vehicle traffic from the waterfront to St. Paul until Sept. 8. Traffic will be able to cross Bernard at each intersection.

The move came about, in part, because of COVID-19, but it's something that's been discussed for years.

In an effort to draw more attention to the 400 block, there is discussion about having music or other attractions there to boost the energy.

"We did a walk on Wednesday with the mayor, with Festivals Kelowna, with the events team from the city of Kelowna," said Burley, "just throwing around some ideas of how we could make it a little more lively between Pandosy and Ellis."

Bicycles and scooters will be allowed on the six-metre-wide walkway down the middle of Bernard but not on the sidewalks.

The barricades go up early Monday morning, but the new patios don't officially open until Wednesday, July 1.