SUNDRE – The general public will soon get a chance to learn more about the planned detour route to accommodate the municipality’s capital project to overhaul underground infrastructure along the Highway 27-Main Avenue corridor.
The open house follows earlier engagement sessions held first with the business community and later with the residents along the route who stand to be most impacted.
During a departmental update report presented to council during the regular March 25 meeting, chief administrative officer Linda Nelson said that 17 town residents as well as two Mountain View County residents attended the March 18 session that provided people with an opportunity to learn more about the planned detour as well as ask questions and provide feedback.
“We did receive seven comment sheets,” said Nelson, adding the next step was to compile all of those responses, which primarily revolved around safety, and submit it all to Alberta’s roads and highways ministry known as the department of Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC).
Additionally, she confirmed the date for the third and final open house later this month.
“We do have one more information session on April 24,” she said, adding that the sessiomn is open to everyone and runs from 5-8 p.m. at the Sundre Community Centre.
Coun. Chris Vardas said a concern about the direction of traffic was brought to his attention during a conversation with a resident who wanted to know if 1st Avenue NW would become a one-way street for westbound traffic; and if so, whether residents in the area would have to loop around to access their driveways.
“The side streets will still be open,” said Nelson.
According to an update posted on the town’s official website, the municipality requested an alternate strategy be proposed by TEC for the next phase of construction that would better enable business access points to remain open during the Highway 27 overlay project that is now expected to be completed next year after being postponed in 2023.
“TEC has come back with the most workable solution, which will reroute westbound traffic along 1st Avenue NW,” reads part of the statement.
“This project has been technically complicated due to the nature of the geography in Sundre, and because Highway 27 is part of the high-load corridor network for oversize, overweight vehicles, which has made traffic accommodation strategies particularly complex.”
Once the municipality completes its remaining portion of the work on the town’s underground infrastructure, which depending on conditions is expected to begin this spring and wrap up early in the summer, it will be the province’s turn to complete the overlay project that will include not only permanent mini-roundabouts through the downtown core, but also a new set of traffic lights east of the Red Deer River bridge at the junction of highways 27 and 760 – or the Bergen Road – as well as a regular-sized roundabout to replace the stop signs on the west side of town at the junction of highways 27-22-584.
The province’s part of the project is largely expected to be underway by next construction season, but could possibly begin later this fall.
Traffic disruptions are expected to endure into the following construction season until Transportation and Economic Corridor completes the overlay portion of the project. Concerns and questions can be emailed to [email protected]
