Travel along the North St. Albert Trail corridor can be described as a nightmare by motorists and businesses alike.
Construction in the area has meant traffic is slow and lanes are often closed, and businesses in Jensen Lakes Crossing say they have been negatively impacted by the ongoing construction.
Ashley Turner, owner of Kb&co, said she opened her café in November 2019. Her business started off well, but then COVID hit. Her café was able to open the dining room for the first time last summer as COVID restriction had eased off.
“And right as we went to open our dining room that construction started, and they blocked off the entire entrance to Jensen Lakes. We didn't really get the great boom that we should have had," Turner said.
“I think every business around here kind of took a hit with the traffic."
The construction work is part of phase 2 of the North St. Albert Trail corridor project, said Nicole Lynch, communication advisor with the City of St. Albert. The work is taking place from north of Coal Mine Road to north of Jensen Lakes Blvd/Everitt Drive N.
The work involves underground utilities which include storm management lines that will tie into phase 1 work already completed, Lynch said.
Lynch said the city understands construction impacts road users and adjacent land use and takes measures to mitigate disruption as best as possible.
“Businesses in the area are notified about the project in advance regarding timelines and provided contact information for the project team,” she said adding that temporary workspace easements and/ or utility right-of-way easements are mutually agreed upon prior to the onset of construction with the landowners, through property managers.
Lynch said if business have concerns, they should share those directly with the city.
“At this time there has been minimal concerns raised to the city directly that weren’t able to be addressed,” Lynch said.
Tara Edwards owns the Bone and Biscuit in Jensen Lakes Crossing and in Riverside. She has not brought up concerns about her business with the city, but her customers have voiced their concerns to her.
Edwards said the people who have been coming to her new location at Riverside have told her they avoid Jensen Lakes Crossing.
“I couldn't believe how many people have said, ‘We totally do not go to that area, and we haven't shopped at your store for months, because of the construction, we avoid that area completely.’"
“It was just so disheartening that it has affected business…it takes a long time to build that customer clientele,” said Edwards.
Edwards doesn’t understand why the construction is taking as long as it is taking, as the weather was “ideal” this year.
Turner would like to see construction happen at night and she would also like more support from the city for businesses in the area.
“I would like the city to honestly jump in and support us here. I mean, even have council and the mayor come in and maybe promote the businesses,” she said.
Edwards would like to see more transparency from the city, and she would like the city to hear her concerns.
“I feel that they don't care. Because you know what they say, ‘Well, it'll get better because now it had to be done.’ Right. And ‘We'll get this out of the way, and it'll be back to normal.’ Well, will it be back to normal? How many customers have I lost in in the process of that?”
In response to these concerns, Lynch said the city appreciates businesses patience as critical work is completed on St. Albert Trail that will improve corridor efficiencies, increase intersection safety, and will accommodate sidewalks and trials “to significantly improve access and connectivity to these businesses.”
“The St. Albert Trail corridor is a wider right of way that is protected to service potential future infrastructure and has been completed with typical boulevard landscaping for the short to moderate time frame,” Lynch explained.
When it comes to night work, full-time night shifts for construction would significantly increase the cost of the project, Lynch continued, and traffic accommodations would still need to be left up during the day.
However, businesses will have a bit of relief from construction soon.
“As the season changes, it is anticipated the area will be winterized for safe and efficient movement of traffic through the winter,” said Lynch. “Construction will begin again in the spring of 2023.”
Phase 2 of the North St. Albert Trail corridor project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023.
