DIDSBURY - Council has been given an update on several road and other infrastructure project projects in town, including drainage improvements at the Memorial Complex.
Chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner gave the update as part of his monthly report to council at the Sept. 12 council meeting, held in person and on YouTube.
The major Highway 582 and 23rd Street intersection improvement project, which is being partially funded by the Town of Didsbury in conjunction with the province, has progressed well throughout the summer, he said.
“Currently the contractor is nearing substantial completion with only minor items outstanding,” Gorner said. “The enhanced scope of work to widen and resurface 23 Street was completed along with the intersection improvements, resulting in a high quality, monolithic travel surface past the Shantz subdivision.”
Fortis will be mobilizing to install the overhead street lighting at the site later this month, he said.
Regarding the Memorial Complex project he said, “The underground improvements included extending the stormwater main, replacing two catch basins, and installing new catch basins, along with asphalt and concrete repairs.”
The work on the project was completed last month and open to traffic in August, he said.
“The new pathway servicing playground and skatepark completed in August,” he added.
Regarding the 20th Street and 19th Avenue mill and overlay projects, he said, “The 20th Street scope of work was completed in mid-July with a high quality result,” he said. “Following some concrete replacements along 19th Avenue, the surface was milled and overlayed in late August, which also results in a high quality project.
“The combined improvements have made a strong impact.”
Started with base stabilization late in 2022, the 23rd Street improvement project saw the contractor apply new gravel and oil product in August, with the project now completed, he said.
Gorner also updated council on the 16th Street pedestrian connectivity improvement project, which is nearing completion.
“Connectivity improvements were completed in August,” he said. “A trench drain was added to the sidewalk to allow stormwater to drain off the road. The damaged asphalt was milled and overlayed, and an accessibility ramp and pathway extension were added to the north side.”
Responding to Gorner’s report on the road and infrastructure projects, Coun. Bill Windsor said, “Overall we have so many things going on and it is wonderful what is going on in the community.
“The acceptance of the community and the comments I’ve heard about what we’ve done over the summer about the construction that has gone on has been really positive. It’s been really, really good.”
Coun. Dorothy Moore said, “I’m very pleased with the quality of work we’ve had done this summer.”
Coun. John Baswick and mayor Rhonda Hunter also applauded the work done this summer.
Council accepted Gorner’s report as information.
