With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of cement trucks and cranes, their operators’ sights set on the next phase of Anthony Henday Drive.
According to Mark Basher, deputy project manager for Flatiron Graham Parsons, the company completed most of the work required during the winter, including working on some parts of land that had what Basher described as soft soil between St. Albert Trail and Campbell Road.
“We were taking advantage of the overnight freezing temperatures,” he said when asked why the work was put off until the winter. “Because of the soft soil … we were over-excavating the area, made drainage areas and put in more clay.”
Basher said the construction challenges were expected and work on them proceeded with very little incident. He added the work was not completed in the soft soil areas and would not be finished until next winter.
Basher said crews are working on building underground areas to move high voltage electrical wires from over Anthony Henday Drive into the underground areas, but he expects work on digging and paving to kick into high gear in mid-April. Construction crews will begin working on the 170th Street bridge and connectors first, followed by work at 137th Avenue, alignment of 184th Street and the bridge at St. Albert Trail.
“As soon as the frost is out of the ground and we have sufficient warmth in the ground, we’ll be digging,” he said. “Work on 137th (Avenue) will start mid-April.”
Another major part of construction will include digging the Anthony Henday Drive underneath St. Albert Trail once the current bridgework is done. Basher said the dip in the Henday is the only one along the roadway, and will require a lot of time to complete.
Todd Wyman, director of engineering for the City of St. Albert, said they are currently working with Flatiron Graham Parsons to determine where they need to block off or restrict road access, as well as ensure the bridgework does not affect city projects.
“We have to be cognizant of everything,” said Wyman. “We want to be sure we can come up with a traffic mitigation plan.”
Some of the work Wyman said the city would be doing this summer includes construction on St. Albert Trail and repaving on roads that will be close to the Henday. He added the city is also responsible for designing all of the road connectors, including Sir Winston Churchill Avenue in the Heritage Lakes area and extending Boudreau Road beyond Veness Road and south to Anthony Henday Drive.
Wyman said the first temporary road closure is already scheduled for April 7 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., when Flatiron Graham Parsons will work on Ray Gibbon Drive between 137 Avenue and Yellowhead Trail.
In the meantime, Basher is asking for the public’s patience as the work continues, saying he understands the various closures and detours could make things more difficult on drivers.
“It will be a very busy construction season,” he said. “The [work] will have a short-term traffic impact.”
