Construction crews have recently completed an expansion of the regional walking path as well as the final lift of asphalt on Centre Street North, and a section of Main Avenue West is soon expected to be underway.
The work was all included in the municipality’s 2017-18 capital projects, said Jim Hall, operations manager.
Those plans took into consideration not only underground infrastructure and roads but also improved pedestrian paths to foster a more foot-traffic friendly community, he said.
Offsetting the cost of these projects was Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding, he said.
The roughly 600 metres of paved asphalt walking path — which runs along the east side of Centre Street North to 12th Avenue from 9th Avenue, cost about $90,000, he said, adding that expense also included removing the former narrower concrete sidewalk.
Also, concerns that the three-metre-wide path could potentially impede the roots of nearby trees prompted the decision to slightly reroute the path by moving it over to provide additional space, he said.
The intent of installing a wider path was to reduce potential congestion by better accommodating mobility-assisted devices such as scooters and wheelchairs, as well as strollers, bicycles and in-line skaters, he said.
The project is part of the municipality’s ongoing effort to improve the connectivity of the regional path system, whose design guidelines are outlined in the Parks, Open Spaces and Trails plan that was created by Calgary-based landscape architectural firm LA West and approved by council in the spring, he said.
Some future expansions of the path are also connected to developments that are currently in progress, and there are not necessarily any defined timelines for those. But eventually, the walking path along Centre Street North will be extended by an additional 1,200 metres up along the west side of James River Road — there will be a crossing at 12th Avenue — towards the top of the hill when the new anticipated subdivision is built, he said.
Also, another 400 metres of walking path will be included this year to coincide with the impending first phase work on Main Avenue West, with an additional 400-metre section planned for next year. Once completed, that path will provide a pedestrian-friendly connection from Tim Hortons, or 10th Street SW, all the way to Corner Brook, or 6th Street SW.
“Pedestrian mobility is a goal.”
The full 800 metres of pathway, which will not require the removal of existing sidewalk, is expected to cost about $160,000, he said.
Wherever there is a missing pathway connection, the municipality plans to remedy the situation in an attempt to facilitate allowing people to walk more without being so dependent on driving, he said.
The final 42-millimetre lift of asphalt was also recently successfully laid along Centre Street North, largely completing a project that started last year.
“It’s done now, we’re just waiting for the final inspection from engineers,” he said last week.
The reason behind waiting many months before completing the final lift was to allow a period of time for the road to settle so any potential imperfections that showed up could be dealt with, he said, adding the line painting was expected to be done today (Tuesday, Aug. 28).
Additionally, the street lights have also now largely been installed, with FortisAlberta in the final stages of completing a couple of final standards, he said.
Otherwise, all that remains is some landscaping work, which at this stage in the season will likely mean waiting until next spring, he said.
“It’s a bit late in the season to plant.”
Motorists heading north on Centre Street might have noticed the 30 kilometres per hour speed limit sign mounted on a light post. However, that measure for now remains temporary until all the last touches — such as line painting — are complete, he said, adding the roadside sign kept getting knocked over, hence the decision to more firmly fix it on the standard.
“It still remains a construction area for now.”
Meanwhile, the tender process for the first phase of the Main Avenue West project from 10th Street SW to 7th Street SW ended late last week and council was expected to today approve a successful bidder during a special meeting, he said, adding the cost will be approximately $2.1 million.
“Work will kick off quickly after that.”
The construction — which also includes wastewater, water, new curb and gutter as well as a storm entrance into a swale — is expected to last between six and eight weeks, and should be done by early October, he said.
The second phase, which will continue to 6th Street SW from 7th Street passing in front of the town’s office, will be completed next year at an estimated cost of about $1.9 million, he said.
Additionally included in this plan is connecting two water pipes to provide an additional supply of water to Sundre’s southwest, he said.
Sundre's director of corporate service, Chris Albert, said the funding for the $4 million Main Avenue work will be covered by about $1.6 million in debenture borrowing, roughly $650,000 from MSI funding, with the rest being covered by existing reserves.
Ripped out concrete and pavement does not go to waste, said Hall. The municipality stores old concrete that can be ground into a more granular substance that serves well as aggregate, and removed pavement can also be milled out for future use, he said.
“We’re reusing a lot of our ripped infrastructure.”
Residents with questions about the pathway and roadwork are welcome to contact the operations department, he added.
