Deer Ridge roadwork

Pats of Deer Ridge Drive will be closed until this weekend as the city pries a traffic island from the road to create better vehicle access.

The $90,000 project, which closed the road today, will see the city remove a traffic island at the east entrance to Deer Ridge Drive. Taking out the island will create enough space to create a left-hand turning lane onto Giroux Road.

“The removal of the traffic island will drastically improve traffic flow in the community,” said Sue Howard, the city’s capital projects manager. “This project has been a priority for the residents of Deer Ridge for some time, and we are pleased to see it underway this year.”

The removal was originally scheduled for last year, as building the turning lane was originally identified in the 2011 Overlay Program. Weather delays, however, prevented the city from completing it.

Parts of Deer Ridge Drive, specifically from Giroux Road to Deerbourne Drive, will be closed starting today and on Oct. 12 and 13 while crews are working. The duration of the work will also depend on the weather.

Marketing awards

The city has been recognized nationally for two of its marketing strategies with a first- and second-place showing at the Marketing Canada Awards.

The postcard and stamp package featuring local imagery won first place, while the new-business welcome package containing local art as well as teas and chocolates placed second out of 160 nominations.

The postcards that won first prize featured pictures taken by youth aged eight to 18 during the Take Your Best Shot photo competition, put on by both Business and Tourism and the Musée Heritage Museum. Four of the photos were featured on postcards. Stamps featuring a leaf bud that could be purchased in sheets of 40 and were of identical value as a regular stamp were also a part of the project.

The new-business welcome package took second place at the awards. When a new business receives its business licence from the city, it also gets a welcome package that includes two handcrafted botanical mugs, packages of Botanical Blossom Tea, which a press release states is specifically blended for St. Albert, and a selection of chocolates depicting St. Albert’s leaf icon.

The Marketing Canada awards are put on by the Economic Developers Association of Canada, which represents economic development professionals in every province and territory across the country.

Large junk drop off

Local residents with two extra garbage tags and the right transportation can take any large items at home they no longer need to the city’s large junk drop off event on Saturday.

Held twice annually, the drop-off lets people bring old furniture, appliances or any other waste that does not fit in their garbage cart to the Jack Kraft Public Works facility to be disposed of. The city rents large bins that staff use to dispose of whatever is left behind.

While the city will take almost anything, there is a list of items that it will not accept, such as commercial waste, automotive parts or any appliance containing freon. View the whole list at www.stalbert.ca/junkevent

All items must have two blue or yellow garbage tags and those tags must be purchased in advance, as they will not be sold Saturday. They can be purchased at St. Albert Place, Fountain Park Pool or Servus Place for $2.15 per tag.

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