Rain has slowed some of the city's construction projects over the first part of the season but city officials say they hope to catch up with the increasingly drier weather.
Tracy Allen, acting director of engineering, said the city is starting to fall behind on a number of road and earthworks projects as a result of the rain. However, recent sunny days are allowing the city to start playing catch up.
"We're keeping a really close eye on it over the next six weeks," she said.
According to the Weather Network, a total of 144 millimeters of precipitation has fallen in St. Albert since June 1, compared to 80 mm for the same period in 2009. Environment Canada's historical weather map said the highest amount of precipitation for June and July totalled 174 mm.
Although she couldn't say if the rain was unusually high for the season, Allen did remark on the increase in precipitation over last year. However, she could also recall a heavier-than-normal amount of rain coming down in 2008, delaying several projects.
That included phase one of Riel Recreation Park, severely delayed by rain. However, Allen said there doesn't appear to be as much of an effect on the work under way at phase two.
"The site manager is just working on other stuff in the meantime, like demolition," she said. "Now that it is drying up they can start on the construction."
Another consideration with the various projects on hold is employee safety, especially with projects located on grassy or muddy areas. As a result of the rain, machinery and construction crews can slip, leading to potential accidents.
Wet track
One of the city's summer projects is Fowler Track, which community recreation co-ordinator Mika Seon-King said started late as a result of the rain. The $200,000 project will see a new 100-metere speed track added to the area behind the main track, as well as new bleachers to replace the older ones, which Seon-King said were no longer safe to use.
She said construction crews have started digging up the area, but will not be able to lay down the track until the ground dries up. Without the dry weather, it would not be able to set and cure properly and could delay the project, something Allen later said was happening with other projects across the city.
"I'm hoping that by August the rain will stop," she said.
Although no work is being performed on the old track, Seon-King said the track was closed to allow construction trucks to come through the area without worry.
Allen said she was unsure about how the timelines and costs would work out on many of the city's projects. While many projects might have started late or been delayed, it would be possible for the city to play catch up if August and September remain dry, she said.
"In some circumstances, yes, we can catch up and do other work in the interim. As long as August and September are dry, we're fine."
