Drivers should be able to resume parking along 50th Avenue from 50th to 51st streets by this week, now that new sewer and water services have been installed there, Olds town officials say.However, at least initially, they won't be able to park along both sides of the avenue – only one side.It will have “limited parking,” interim director of operational services Scott Chant says.And the avenue won't be paved -- it will have gravel until all the sewer and water connections etc. have been installed along the entire length of the construction zone, from 50th Street to 52nd Street.“They're going to have one side of the street blocked off so the concrete company can do the work,” he says. “They're going to work on one side of the street. People can have some parking on the other side of the street. Then, when that concrete's in, they'll switch sides.”The construction project is being done in stages – except for the paving.The project began July 21 when the old pavement was ripped up. Installation of new sewer and water services was basically completed from 50th Avenue to 51st Avenue by Aug. 7. By Friday, Aug. 8, they began going into the intersection of 50th Avenue and 51st Street.The good news, Chant says, is that so far, the project is “on track” to be complete on time, likely before fall.Director of corporate services Garth Lucas says Friday's rain will delay the project, at least a little, but at the moment, that's not expected to increase its overall cost, because rain delays are anticipated when contracts are hammered out.Chant says workers are generally putting in 10- to 12-hour days, usually six days a week, although he says they did take the August long weekend off.“They're making good headway,” he says.Chant admits the project “lost a day” as a result of the Aug. 5 gas leak.The general contractor, Rubydale Asphalt Works, will receive a bonus if the work is completed within 44 days (excluding weekends).Local subcontractors working on the project include AIC Construction, which is installing the new sewer and water pipes, and Olds Concrete, which will replace the concrete. Fortis Alberta will be installing new “heritage-style” lights.By this week (the week of Aug. 11) they were expected to begin replacing sewer and water services from 51st Street to 52nd Street.Once that's completed, both blocks will have gravel laid down. Paving of the entire construction area will be done in one shot – including a strip on the north side of 51st Street, which was dug up so wiring for the new lights could be installed. Until that strip is repaved, it will be covered with a combination of steel plating and gravel.
