Construction crews are expected to start working on the Centre Street North project no later than mid-month, the Town of Sundre's operations manager said last week.
"I expect shovels in the ground by the second week of August, or earlier," Jim Hall told the Round Up during a phone interview on Tuesday, July 25.
Following the required two-week tender period, Sundre's council awarded during a special meeting on July 13 a roughly $1.4-million contract to AIC Construction to complete the first phase of the $2.2-million project. The first phase involves the total replacement of water, wastewater and storm drainage infrastructure as well as the resurfacing of the road from 6th Avenue to 12th Avenue. The second phase, to be completed next year, will largely entail finishing touches such as landscaping.
Although construction work has technically not yet started, the contractor has been busy behind the scenes lining up logistical details such as hiring subcontractors and setting schedules, finalizing lists of required building materials and placing necessary orders, as well as establishing a temporary site to set up trailers that will serve as a base of operations until the job is complete, said Hall.
Once approved, these kinds of construction projects are never just about digging up the ground and getting straight to the physical aspect of the labour involved, he said.
"People want to see the ripping and tearing, but there's more to it than that."
However, the project is nevertheless underway with plenty of time remaining in this construction season to get the job done before November, he said.
"Engineering feels confident, and operations feels confident, that we should be able to meet the deadline ó and the contractor is held to that deadline ó of October 31," Hall had told council during the July 13 meeting.
Besides, July can be known for wild weather and strong storms, while August and September tend to offer better conditions, he told the Round Up.
"We want the best construction weather."
Once the work does get underway in the following week or two, the municipality will monitor traffic accommodation and encourage only local as well as hospital traffic, he said.
"The lanes won't be totally closed," he previously told the Round Up, explaining an access route has to be ensured for emergency services.
"There'll always be one lane open."
Also, residents who live north of Sundre will be encouraged to come into town through the west via Highway 22.
"We'll try and do local traffic only."
