Despite a slow start to the season, road construction and updates to sidewalks in the city are expected to finish on time.
Sue Howard, capital projects office manager, said the late spring may have led to a delayed start on many construction projects. But contractors are now saying that they will be able to finish their work by late August and September, she said.
"All of our projects, the overlays, the Rotary (Park) construction, even the St. Albert Trail median seemed to start a little bit late this year," she said.
"But now that we have everyone back on track they all seem to be saying that they will be able to complete by their original time."
St. Albert Trail median planting
Crews have been working on upgrades to the centre median located on St. Albert Trail since July. Construction impacts the trail between the Superstore entrance and Sterling Street, and between Mission and McKenney Avenues.
Howard said city crews are replacing the damaged concrete median infill on the road, as well as curbs and gutters and some deteriorating asphalt surfaces.
New construction includes creating a trench well to allow for a greater depth of topsoil, as well as new plantings of various trees, shrubs and plants.
Crews have now completed the concrete removal and will continue with replacing topsoil between St. Vital Avenue and St. Anne Street before moving on to the next phase of construction between Sterling Street to Grenier Place, she said.
From mid-August to the end of September construction will take place between Grenier Place to Gate Avebye and the Superstore.
"We are hoping to be done in September," said Howard.
Asphalt overlay
Construction crews are also working on a number of asphalt overlays throughout the city.
This project takes place on both main arteries and neighbourhood roads, with a concentration on the Lacombe Park area, said Howard.
Work in that neighbourhood is expected to finish by the end of this week. Crews will then move on to the Grandin area where they are expected to finish construction by the third week of August, she said.
"They started doing concrete removals in the Grandin area and then they'll be paving that towards the end of August," she said. "And then Burnham (Avenue and Place) is another big one they'll be doing as part of the overlays this year."
Due to private construction on the corner of Boudreau Road and Bellerose Drive, overlay work on Boudreau Road has been delayed, she added.
The city is now talking to the private contractor working on the former Hole's Greenhouse property to see if they can finish the overlay for them, she said.
"If they can't we will wait until they are done and then bring in our own contractor and do that area," she said.
The city is also reconstructing all of Linwood Crescent.
This includes rebuilding the neighbourhood's road structure, repairing curb and gutter drainage, replacing damaged concrete sidewalks and restoring proper drainage as well as landscaping on municipal boulevards.
Sidewalk and bus pad replacements
Sidewalks in the city will be replaced and extended, especially those located close to sports fields and high traffic areas, said Howard. This will improve pedestrian safety and clean up many trip hazards, she said.
Construction of sidewalks is expected to finish in September, with portions of sidewalks remaining closed while the area is under construction, she said.
Along with the sidewalks, crews are also expanding and replacing 31 bus pads.
Bus stops in St. Albert will soon feature a new standard concrete pad, which is expected to improve the safety and access of St. Albert Transit patrons, said Howard.
"We are trying to make a larger bus pad where people have a safe place to get on and off," she said. "And some of them didn't have sidewalk connectors as well so in some cases we are putting in a sidewalk so that people can get to the bus stop."
For a complete list of construction projects and timelines go to stalbert.ca/getting-around/roads/construction-projects.
