Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

City busy with many capital works projects this summer

Jul 11, 2018 | 12:00 PM

The City of North Battleford has many projects on the go over the summer, including work downtown and at the Civic Centre parking lots.

“Most of the work that is being done right now is under the UPAR [Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement] program,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “We are not doing more than last year. In fact, council chose to maintain the existing level of funding. There was no increase to that this year. So we’re continuing on.

“All of the projects that are in progress are going according to the plan and budget so far, so that’s good,” he added. “All these projects were approved during the budget process last fall.”

The projects moving ahead include reconstructing the Civic Centre parking lot area. The north and west parking lots will be closed while the work is being done.

“It’s been a multi-year project,” Bater said. “We’ve had significant drainage challenges in that area. Last year we graded that parking lot so that it would drain better. The plan was to pave it this year and that’s what’s happening.”

The city announced for the 101 Street work downtown, crews have completed the underground pipe work for the 1200 and 1300 blocks, and are now working on reconstructing the 1200 block street. The 1200 block is expected to be closed for two to three more weeks while the work is being done. The city said the 1300 block will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians until the 1200 block work has been completed and is open again. The 1200 block is expected to be open to pedestrians by July 27. Then, plans are to close the 1300 block for six to eight weeks as workers reconstruct the roadway. It’s anticipated the work willl be completed by Sept. 14. 

Work on schedule 

Bater said the 101 Street work is going according to schedule.

“It’s all part of Phase Two of the downtown rehabilitation,” he said. “I believe a lot of the underground work is complete. We are doing sidewalk and streetscapes at the same time. So a lot of this is beyond just doing underground rehabilitation and ashphalt [work], it’s also doing the sidewalks.”

According to the city, road work on 97 Street from 13 to 15 Avenue, and 99 Street from 12 to 13 Avenue is complete and the roads are now open to traffic, among some of the projects taking place over the summer.

Bater said recent rain may slightly delay many of the paving projects.   

He said the city is focused on having the downtown work in particular completed shortly.

“We understand this work is disruptive to business,” Bater said. “So we want to make sure the project is done as quickly as possible.”

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW