Berm section never meant for people
By GILLIAN SLADE on August 15, 2019.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com
A berm built a year ago from Strathcona Island Park toward Industrial Avenue still does not allow pedestrians to walk along the top.
The city says unlike the berms through Lions Park and Strathcona Island, the top surface has never been paved with asphalt because that was never the intention.
“There was no asphalt trail included in the design of the Industrial Ave berm, as one already exists on the south side of the Heritage Pavilion,” said Carlie Collier, spokesperson for municipal works. “This existing trail has the infrastructure in place to safely take the user across Seven Persons Creek, under and/or across Industrial Avenue and under the railway tracks between Industrial Avenue and South Railway Street (bottom of Scholten Hill).”
The barrier installed on the far south end of the berm where it is blocked off is a temporary measure to reduce the foot traffic along the top of the berm, “which will help establish further grass growth”, said Collier.
Two years ago the city announced it would be handling the flood berm in this area in two parts. The city awarded a contract to local firm MJB Enterprises to erect the berm from Lion’s Park to a point east of Medalta Potteries.
A second contract to extend it south across Industrial Avenue and to the Canadian Pacific Railway’s main line was expected to be awarded in the fall of 2017 with the expectation that both projects could be complete by summer 2018, according to a story in the News in August 2017.
“Regarding the final stages of berms to be completed, the city continues to examine options for the remaining areas,” said Collier.
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