DIDSBURY – The major upgrade project at the Didsbury Memorial Complex Arena started in the second week of May is on budget, with the plan to have had the main concrete pour on Oct. 16, says officials.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.45 million.
The project involves work on both the rinks and includes the replacement of floors, boards, brine lines (refrigeration lines) and the addition of an underpad heat floor.
The contractor, Brysand Ice Arena Ltd. of Edmonton, has completed all unanticipated repairs, which saw the removal of two additional buried concrete floors and replacement of cross-ties which are critical to the structural integrity of the building, CAO Ethan Gorner said in his recent monthly report to council.
Work completed on the project to date includes the following:
• Removal of old board systems, concrete slabs, fill, and buried slabs.
• Disposal of all old concrete floors.
• Repair of cross-ties for building structure.
• Installation of new header system for refrigeration.
• Installation of weeping tile system for added draining.
• Installation of under-pad heat floor.
• Installation of sand floor, compacted and laser levelled.
• Geotechnical testing.
• Manufacturing of new board systems, in Calgary awaiting installation.
OMNI is doing the board work on the project.
As of September 3, 2020, the project was on schedule with an anticipated reopening of the facility to possibly occur in early December.
The contractor hopes to be able to gain back some time on the project over the next month when the installation of brine lines and rebar takes place, he said.
Arena staff is currently working to schedule ice bookings with local users beginning in December.
The 30 per cent rate reduction for the 2020-21 season granted by council in consideration of the project delay was well-received by users, Gorner said.
Staff is also working with local groups to develop re-entry plans based on provincial guidelines for COVID-19.
