Much to the relief of east Vancouver residents and businesses, Southeast First Street has reopened after a yearlong road project wrapped up this week.

The upgrade included pavement widening, sidewalks, curbs, bike facilities, streetlights, stormwater drainage, and street resurfacing and striping, according to the city of Vancouver.

“I can tell you it reopened at 9:05 (Tuesday) morning. I was there when they were removing the barrier,” Fredrik English, co-owner of English Estate Winery, said Wednesday.

English said the winery received calls nearly every day asking how to navigate the construction zone.

“It was hard to avoid; it was right in our front yard,” he said.

Because of the construction, he estimates the business lost about 30 percent of its revenue.

“They were only supposed to

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