Provided the weather does not proverbially throw any wrenches into the gears, the Centre Street North project's first phase is on track to be completed before the end of October.
"Things are going really well," said Jim Hall, the Town of Sundre's operations manager, adding the contractor responsible for laying pipes in the ground reported setting a record length.
"They installed 160 metres of storm piping (in one day), which is really a lot."
Storm pipes require extremely specific grades to ensure gravity creates a consistent flow of water. If the pipe is laid too flat the water risks staying stagnant, whereas too steep of a grade could result in an overwhelming torrent of water that backs up, he said.
He told the Round Up near the end of September that work on the storm drains was expected to be done within the coming weeks.
"Then we'll start to prepare the final paving. We're going to be right on target, probably wrapping up major activities before the end of October" so long as the weather cooperates, he said.
The storm piping was the last of the underground infrastructure to be installed following the completion of water and wastewater services, he said.
Weather delays have been minimal, and there has been little downtime, although the recent snowfalls did result in a brief pause. But there is no frost in the ground yet, and Hall remained optimistic the Oct. 31 deadline would be met.
Meanwhile, the undertaking remains on budget, and he said no requests for additional funding had been presented.
The $2.2-million project, which involves replacing all of the underground services from Sixth Avenue to 12th Avenue as well as the repaving of the road, required the removal of a number of trees in the area. Some of those trees were dead or damaged with branches breaking off anyway, so some members of the public did not seem to mind, he said.
More trees might be removed for the construction of a walking path during the second phase of the project, which is expected to start in the spring, although the plan will be to replace a few, he said.
"We wouldn't take all of the trees out without putting some back."
The municipality's mandate on trees is to keep as many as possible provided they remain healthy and within their life expectancy, he said, adding anyone with questions or concerns is welcome to contact him at the town shop, 403-638-4707.
Meanwhile, as construction crews get closer to completing the first phase of the project, the operations manager encourages motorists to continue being patient and observant of directional detour signs, which occasionally get blown down by wind, he said.
"If you notice a sign is down, please do your residential duty and set it back up," he said, adding municipal employees are not available 24-7 to always put the signs back up.
