Argyle Street opens with a party after months of construction

After 21 weeks of construction, Halifax's Argyle Street is ready for a party.

"[It will] really celebrate the businesses that have lived through this," said Jacob Ritchie, urban planner with Halifax Regional Municipality.

The final paving stone will be officially installed Saturday when therewill be live music, games and beer tents to mark Argyle's new look.

The wider sidewalks, paving stones and the curbless street are intended to make it more of a pedestrian zone.

"There's no question that the design and hopefully the way it's used will be a cue to people that this is really a space for people," said Paul MacKinnon, executive director of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission.

The one-way street will start allowing vehicles on Tuesday evening.

Ritchiesays the city didn't want to keep out all traffic because some access is important to the bars, restaurants and theatres.

"This is a destination place," said Ritchie, "We wanted to make sure cars are welcome, but people will probably choose other streets if they are just driving through town."

But MacKinnon thinks the two blocks of Argyle could be regularly closed to traffic when next year's patio season gets underway.

"There is the intention to have a series of street closures, probably most weekends," said MacKinnon."It's meant to be flexible."

Ritchiesays the idea of pedestrian-first streets could spread to other areas of downtown Halifax.

"I think we are going to see more of that," he said.