A pedestrian finds his own way around the construction site on Grafton St. (Pat Martel/CBC)

The City of Charlottetown has asked a contractor to improve safety measures at a downtown construction site.

For the last month, vehicle traffic has been limited to one lane on Grafton Street between University Ave. and Queen St. The street is torn up for work on a new hotel and underground tunnel that would connect it to the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

On the south side of the street there is a concrete barrier protecting pedestrians from traffic. But at lunch time Monday, Des MacDonald and his wife found approaching the site on the north side of the street difficult. They found their side of the street blocked, a huge crane picking up steel in front of them, and nowhere to go.

"We just thought of that as we were walking. We'll probably have to slip through the bank, go down to the corner and out on to the Avenue somehow," said MacDonald.

"There really is no access any other way now."

Left without a way forward and no directional signs, most people end up walking in the middle of the busy street with no protection from oncoming cars or construction work.

Charlottetown public works manager Paul Johnston said he didn't know proper safety measures weren't being followed until he received a call from CBC News.

"We'll have to take another look at it," said Johnston.

"I guess I was assuming that there was an indication that the sidewalk ceases and you would either have to go back in the direction you came, or else there was the opportunity to duck down the alley there and in through the Confederation Court Mall and go around in that manner."

Johnston said he's asked the project manager to make sure improvements are made as soon as possible.

Starting next Monday both sides of the street will be closed to all vehicle traffic until the end of June. Pedestrian access will still be allowed.