The second phase of the Centre Street North project will coincide with such a time as a developer commits to building a new subdivision in Sundre's northeast, council recently heard.
"The Centre Street project will resume when development begins in the area north of 12 Ave NE," wrote Sundre's operations manager Jim Hall in a report that was presented to elected officials during the Nov. 14 meeting.
Construction of the project's first phase has largely been completed, with contractors having successfully finished work on underground water, wastewater and stormwater systems. The curb, gutter and the first lift of 110 millimetres of paving from 6A Avenue to 12th Avenue NE is also completed, he reported.
"It was determined that the Fortis lighting on the west side would be adequate enough to wait until spring of 2018 to install east side lights," he wrote.
"This allowed for the installation of conduit for future broadband installations."
Additionally, the three-metre-wide regional path paving and grade levelling preparation from 9th Avenue to 12th Avenue NE is complete, he wrote.
Next year, the regional path will be paved from 6th Avenue to 12th Avenue, effectively connecting 12th Avenue to the municipality's sidewalk and path system. At that time, grading and preparation for grass seeding and tree replacements where required will also be done, he wrote, adding line painting will start in conjunction with the operations department's annual scheduled line painting.
"The final lift of asphalt of 40 millimetres will commence in the spring schedule set by the prime contractor AIC, which will tie into the curb gutter lip and fill in transitions with manholes and water valves."
Hall noted in his report that lane widths were for the time being narrowed to accommodate the future room that will eventually be required to fit four lanes and a boulevard. Due to proximity, some trees may also have to be removed on the east side by the new path, although they will be replaced.
Coun. Rob Wolfe wondered whether plans were in place to make the lanes on Centre Street North more consistent, as the road is much wider up to 6th Avenue, after which the street becomes narrow all the way up to 12th Avenue.
"The idea of that narrowing is traffic calming for the hospital," said Hall.
"And of course, in the future, when the development in the north begins, the remainder of that whole project will be complete under that subdivision. Then those lanes that you're currently driving opposing on will be two lanes one way, two lanes the other with a median in the middle."
Mayor Terry Leslie wondered whether there was a timeline on the second phase and how the cost between the two phases breaks down.
The first phase was specifically to install new underground infrastructure ó 800 metres of storm, water and wastewater pipes ó as well as to repave the road's surface and upgrade the regional walking path along with some landscaping touch-ups, said Hall.
Vic Pirie, director of finance and administration, added that Phase 1 is essentially the work that has been completed to date as well as the regional path that remains to be finished next spring.
"Eventually, when we get more development in the north, the developers will be paying for Phase 2," he said.
Administration had estimated the total project costing $4.4 million in the municipality's capital plan ó $2.2 million for Phase 1 coming from a $1 million debenture with the rest covered by reserves and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant funding, with roughly another $2.2 million for Phase 2, he said, adding that project would create the four-lane concept with a median.
"That's paid for by developers ó not by the Town of Sundre," he said about the second phase.
"That'll happen whenever the developers come and start developing. That could be 10 years from now, could be two years from now. But it's driven by the development to the north."
Council discussed whether any developers are already in line to begin developing that part of town.
"Do we wait for developers to approach us, or do we chase them?" asked Coun. Rob Wolfe.
"We actually do both," replied Linda Nelson, administrator, who had also pointed out the completion of the first phase will accommodate future growth by increasing the municipality's capacity.
