Two major projects that will roll out in Sundre this year represent significant progress for the Town of Sundre, said the mayor.
Terry Leslie recently told the Round Up he was hugely optimistic for the coming year, which will see work begin on upgrades to Centre Street North as well as the introduction of a pilot project to improve pedestrian traffic while maintaining a steady flow of traffic on Main Avenue in the downtown core.
"Some residents brought their serious and legitimate concerns about Centre Street North and how rough it's gotten ó they're right, that road is a mess," he said.
Officials had already included the section of the ailing road between Sixth Avenue and 12th Avenue in the town's list of capital projects, and the concerns expressed in the fall to council by residents solidified the decision to move forward. The $2.2-million investment should allay those issues, he said.
The work will include important upgrades to underground services that will help to ensure a suitable accommodation of future growth in handling fresh water distribution as well as wastewater treatment for years to come, he said.
Also, the Centre Street North upgrade will not only allow for increased traffic flow, but improve mobility concerns for residents as well. Additionally, it is anticipated that the beautification of the area with the landscaped boulevard will increase property values and the quality of life of local residents, said an official press release from the town.
Once preliminary engineering requirements are completed, the project will go to tender. Construction is expected to start this May, and the work is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2018, it said.
"During this time, residents will be detoured along Second Street NE and pedestrians will be guided to use safe walking routes. The Town of Sundre asks that residents please observe detour signs and other signage in place for traffic accommodation during the course of construction."
The other major undertaking that will be a highlight in the coming year is the pilot program to address pedestrian safety along the Main Avenue downtown corridor, said Leslie.
The plan includes trialling mini-roundabouts that will act as a traffic calming measure while maintaining a steady flow as well as improving safety for people walking along the sidewalks, he said.
"That's going to be a great big project," he said. "We're excited to be a part of that."
That effort, which has been an ongoing collaborative initiative with Alberta Transportation officials ó will potentially launch this spring, he added.
The mayor stressed that the change to Main Avenue will not necessarily become permanent, but rather that the new design would be studied with provincial officials through four seasons to determine the extent of its efficiency. Snow removal is among the factors that will have to be considered in the redesign, he said.
Residents will also be encouraged to offer their own feedback so they have an opportunity to provide their thoughts on whether the pilot project is working. The idea in the end is to obtain a better understanding of how to make Sundre a safer community, he said.
Also on the docket this year are upgrades to the town's streetlights, which FortisAlberta has plans to replace with newer, more energy-efficient LED lights that will also reduce light pollution, he said.
"We're working with Fortis to get that done on a timeline that works for them ó we're happy to be partners."
Residents of the new Mountain View Seniors' Housing facility as well as those in the surrounding subdivision in the southwest part of Sundre will also see development on trails that will open up access to the downtown core, he said.
"We've got a lot more people looking to use the trails that connect to the downtown."
That includes residents who walk as well as those who use scooters, wheelchairs or bikes, and council wants to ensure their needs are met, he said.
Looking further down the proverbial road, there is also another major infrastructure project coming that officials are already dedicating efforts to prepare for.
"The biggest one for us is planning for wastewater treatment," the mayor said when asked what challenges the municipality faces in the coming years.
"We're nearing capacity."
Although upgrades to the existing sewage treatment lagoon are not immediately around the corner, starting to lay the groundwork in anticipation of the undertaking will give officials time to prepare a better plan, line up grant funding as well as further consider newer, potentially more cost-effective technologies. Officials want to extend the use of the facility ó located just north of Sundre's northeast subdivision ó as it is until about 2020, he said.
"We want to encourage everybody to use their best conservation strategies for water."
Despite the challenges the future inevitably brings, the mayor remains unreservedly optimistic about the long-term prospects of Sundre, which he describes as having a personality and pioneer spirit that is second to none.
Council must embody the same spirit and forge ahead through collaboration combined with a can-do attitude, he said.
"I'm blessed to live in a community I fell in love with immediately...I've had the good fortune to be able to raise my family in this incredible community."
