Construction on the Boathouse Restaurant at Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park will march ahead after the Labour Day weekend.

The Boathouse is to be located at the western edge of the boat launch parking lot and is expected to open next spring.

Today, work to remove the traffic island separating the small vehicle-only parking lot near the pier will start, including removal of nine trees, Port Moody spokesperson Colleen Rohde said yesterday.

Rohde said the trees will ultimately be replaced by 18 trees under the city’s tree replacement policy.

The traffic island is being reconfigured to provide boat trailer parking during construction.

It is expected that up to 20 boat trailer parking stalls will be accommodated during construction, Rohde said. She said once the construction site hoarding is installed after Labour Day, approximately 18 vehicle-only stalls will be reinstated.

Following construction of the restaurant, the new parking lot will accommodate 85 car parking spots, with a reduction in the current number of boat trailer parking stalls, which has been controversial with boating advocates.

The number of boat trailer parking spots present after construction, and configuration of the ramp and potential additional wharf space are the subject of public consultation through a Boat Trailer Parking Working Group established by city council.The group will meet in September said its chair, Mayor Joe Trasolini.

The group will also consider a proposal to add boat trailer directional and parking signs; build a pedestrian access ramp at the west end of the West Coast Express parking lot; re-configure street parking on Esplanade and Columbia streets; and add dock space at the Rocky Point Boat launch.

Park users without boat trailers are encouraged to use the expanded lot on Murray Street at the main entrance to the park, Rohde said. The lot has 136 spaces , including 41 spaces added during the recent park redevelopment project.