Work on the Main Avenue bridge will not be proceeding at 24 hours at day until at least August 15, town councillors decided Monday.
During a special council meeting Monday morning, councillors discussed the possibility of allowing an immediate relaxation of the town's noise bylaw to allow all day and night work on the bridge rehabilitation project.
Council had earlier passed a motion allow the bylaw relaxation to be waived starting August 15.
During the special council meeting, CAO Ryan Leuzinger told councillors the contractor has indicated to the town that it is not prepared to work 24 hours a day until at least August 15.
“It's just not in their budget or plans,” said Leuzinger.
Councillor Chris Vardas said he has also spoken to the contractor and been told 24 hours a day work before August 15 is not in the cards.
“They said they don't have the manpower to run 24 hours,” said Vardas.
Councillor Tony Jordon said the town should be doing what it can to ensure the work is completed as quickly as possible.
“This is about getting the job done so we can get the traffic flowing again,” said Jordan.
Mayor Annette Clews said allowing work to continue 24 hours a day immediately would be unfairly disruptive to residents in the area.
“That would be three summers in a row that they don't get any sleep,” said Clews.
The town has received numerous calls over the past week about the bridge construction, mostly from people concerned about traffic delays, council heard.
“People obviously want to get this thing done and over with a fast as possible,” said councillor and Deputy Mayor Michael Baird. “People are not happy with the traffic delays but the work has to be done and the town has not control on that.”
During last week's Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce meeting, president Sherry Tytkanych said number complaints have been received by the chamber from residents and visitors about the traffic delays caused by the construction.
Ron Baker, the town's director of operational services, says the work on the bridge is expected to last about three months.
“It is deck rehabilitation,” said Baker. “They are essentially rebuilding the deck; the actual driving surface is what they are tearing out of there. There is other stuff they are doing too, but the major thing is deck rehab.
“They are actually tearing the deck off. They are tearing the asphalt off and carrying it away and bringing new stuff back.”
Plans are in the works to have the bridge completely opened (two lanes) temporarily during the August and September long weekends, he said.
Mayor Clews says administration has been in contact with project managers to ensure fire personnel who live in East Sundre are able to get across the bridge quickly in the event of emergency fire or rescue calls.
Flag people will be on duty at the construction site from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with traffic lights operating from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
