For the third time in four years, a section of Strachan Road will see major construction to repair the underground base that has shifted due to a high water table in the area.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
For the third time in four years, major construction work will proceed on Strachan Road this summer to correct lingering problems on the main route for south-end communities, council heard during a rundown of projects in the summer construction season.
The upcoming stage, from Stratton Way to about Sprague Way, is the third phase of work to rebuild the road base that has deteriorated since it was widened in the mid-1990s.
But, with so much construction in consecutive seasons, Coun. Brian Varga questioned officials about whether a permanent fix has been found for the problematic area.
“The area is blessed with a high water table,” responded infrastructure commissioner Stan Schwartzenberger.
“We allowed the area to be developed in a certain way (years ago) and now we’re in maintenance mode.”
“When work is done we use the best engineering techniques that are available at the time,” he added, noting that new work is as modern as possible and should provide a long-lasting solution.
The city is also not revisiting recent work, but moving along the long roadway in sections.
City engineers have told the News that the work was the first major work beyond resurfacing for the stretch since it was widened to four lanes in the late 1990s.
In 2018, the road saw substantial work between Southridge Drive and Stratton Way. That follows a major recreation of the road base under Strachan from Sprague Way to 13th Avenue in 2017, making for a second straight summer of delays and reduced traffic flow in the area.
This summer’s construction east of Stratton will reduce traffic to one lane only, and force a detour for traffic in the opposite direction, said Schwartzenberger.
The project is one of four major road projects outlined in Monday’s presentation to council.
As well, new bridge decking and rehab work on Finlay bridge is expected to begin soon and last until late September. Bridge Street will be closed and traffic detoured between London and Coburg avenues from June until September at water sewer and road work takes place.
Pending budget approval the municipal works department also hopes to tackle failing road surface on Stevenson Street from Southridge Drive to Strong Avenue in June or July.
Storm sewer rehabilitation projects conducted jointly with utility department upgrades will take place at Fourth Avenue NE, 10th Avenue SW, Seventh Street SE, Belfast Street and ongoing work on Sixth Avenue in the downtown core.
The usual mill-work and overlay program will take place at various locations around the city.
Utility projects affecting roads and in some cases causing detours include a top-lift of asphalt still needed on long stretches of First Street SW and staged work that is currently closing portions of Division Avenue while sewer mains are reworked.
The Kipling and Spencer streets corridor will also see the completion of reworking that saw pipes and roadways replaced in previous years.
