Most city construction projects are expected to be completed this year instead of carrying over in 2014.
“The outlook is a lot better than it was last year,” said Sue Howard, capital projects manager for the City of St. Albert.
After rain caused delays in 2012 the list for 2013 was longer than planned.
“We had those plus the ones we had already planned to do this year. So it was a really busy year for the city for sure but the weather managed to co-operate later in the season, so we’re finishing a little bit later than we’d hoped to but certainly getting all of them done this year,” Howard said.
Projects currently underway or just finishing up include the third phase of Ray Gibbon Drive, which Howard said should be having a grand opening in October.
Over in Riel, phases three and four are pretty much completed.
“The work is done. They’re doing some off-the-field type stuff right now,” Howard said. “That project will be on maintenance until Aug. 1, 2014.”
Poundmaker Road has been shut for work on the Oakmont reservoir line.
“That one is still on schedule to finish in November. They’re hoping mid-November but it could go into late November,” Howard said.
Phase two of Veness Road is underway and the contractor is hoping to be done the road work by mid-October, Howard said, adding clean-up and landscaping might have to be carried over into next year. There will be three lanes along that section of Veness once work is completed, with the third lane being a multi-directional turn lane in the middle of the road. The trail will also be extended from Boudreau.
“Parkwood was our big road construction this year and it’s open. There’s some minor deficiencies right now that the contractor’s working on but the road is open,” Howard said.
Asphalt overlays are almost all done, she said.
“All of our asphalt overlays will be done next Friday,” Howard said.
The sidewalk and bus pad rehabilitation program took place all over the city, Howard said.
“All of the pads have been poured, the sidewalks have been poured. They’re just doing landscaping and cleanup right now,” she said.
The entrance signs, another major project, are still on track to be done this year. Howard said the south signs are just about fully completed and the north entrance sign should still get done.
There will be a small section of Red Willow Trail that will be overlaid, she said.
“For the most part everything we plan to get done this year is looking like it’s getting done,” Howard said.
She said there might be some carry over to 2014 for some minor projects like storm water issues.
