Not unexpectedly, July’s heavy rains have played havoc with the construction of Ponoka’s 50th Street realignment project.
“We’re finding the excess liquid sunshine is posing a bit of a challenge and we are having to use more pit run gravel than we anticipated,” said Gerald Matichuk, director of engineering and planning.
Central City Asphalt also encountered more topsoil than expected and instead of building the level back up with pit run, they are trying to reduce the level.
Matichuk said the crew has to be careful to build the base strong enough for heavy traffic but not overbuild it.
The concrete crew is now pouring the curb and gutter and once they’re done the roadway will be ready for road crush and then the asphalt base, he said.
Alberta Transportation is responsible for removing the gooseneck exit ramp on the north side of Highway 2A, Matichuk said. The road will be stripped and reclaimed “so it doesn’t look like old asphalt with weeds growing through it.”
Councillors will get an accounting at their next meeting of spending thus far and a determination of how far behind schedule the weather has pushed the estimated $2,379,906 project. Matichuk said the project is behind the contractor’s schedule but they still plan to be “substantially complete by the end of the year and that’s still on schedule.”
Streetlights and anything left over at the end of the construction season will be added to the 2011 budget.
The project consists of installation of a water main from 60th Avenue north across Highway 2A, storm sewer with catch basins, and a paved road with curb and gutter.
The project re-routes heavy truck traffic and dangerous goods from residential areas in the community to Highway 2A.