INNISFAIL – The 15-year-old wood sound wall along 42nd Avenue on the east side of town is being replaced with a new million-dollar wall that will be concrete-based and expected to last 50 years.
Innisfail council was presented with a report at its March 14 regular meeting that the current wood sound wall is showing significant signs of rotting in the panels and posts.
Steven Kennedy, the town’s director of operational services, told council that an assessment last June strongly recommended its replacement due to the poor condition of the posts that created several unstable panels.
Council was told the 42nd Avenue Sound Wall Project will include the removal and replacement of the existing wood sound wall that extends from 49th Avenue, south of the Petro-Canada gas station, to the south edge of Sunset Manor.
Kennedy said a tender was issued for the contract, with the town wanting special consideration given to the lifespan on the new sound wall, durability and maintenance of the selected material and the total price of the project.
He said five bids were received, with Central Alberta’s Lakeview Contracting Ltd. being selected with its concrete option.
Kennedy told council there will be a staked stone pattern on the 42nd Avenue side of the wall with the other side being a flat concrete finish.
Kennedy said the estimated total project budget was about $1 million. He said the contractor told him the high cost was due in part to increasing costs of materials since last October.
Council was told the project will be fully funded by provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funds.
Coun. Jason Heistad said he was previously on council when the current wood wall was constructed and while it looked good and lasted 15 years, he wanted to know how long the recommended new one would last.
Kennedy said the new concrete panel sound wall, which will have steel posts, is expected to last 50 years.
“This is a major improvement,” said Coun. Gavin Bates, noting another option for the town was priced higher and expected to have only a 20-year lifespan.
Town council unanimously approved Kennedy’s recommendation to award the sound wall replacement contract to Lakeview Contracting Ltd. for $999,745.51.
