Simpson Street is almost ready to re-open for the remainder of the year.
The roadway closed between Cameron and Ogden Street in August to allow for infrastructure renewal.
Contractors are in the process of completing their current work while getting the roadway ready for traffic.
“Curb and gutter and sidewalks are almost complete for the sections we’re doing this year,” explained Senior Project Engineer Brian Newman. “The roads are almost up to grade… street lights are on and we’re planning, I think, base lift paving later this week for Simpson, so most likely you’ll see traffic flowing down there within two weeks.”
Through the rest of the week, a-gravel is going down before the roadway is paved, and sections of curbs and gutters are being finished.
The city hoped to have gotten a little further with the work this year, but they are still happy with the progress.
“All in all, it’s going pretty good it’s just we’re only going to get as far as Robertson (Street) this year,” said Newman. “The original plan was to get around the corner to Rowand (Street), but just because of the complexity of the job and the sheer size, it was harder to get it all complete.”
The delay in work will however provide the city with some more time to debate the future of Charry’s Corner.
“There’s also a big flavour for discussing what’s going to happen with the buildings that have to come down near Charry’s Corner and some work at Charry’s Corner,” said Newman. “I think there’s some other ideas that could come up, but again, there’s some building demolitions that have to happen that’s In Realty Services’ hands currently, so it’s kind of better that we waited, it’s going to help out with the long term plan of the area and servicing.”
In the spring between April and May, work will resume on Simpson Street.
“Well, typically we try to start, I mean it was always May long weekend was always our start date but with the way the weather has been in the last so many years we’ve been starting early to mid-April, and usually by the end of April, or early May, worst case.”
Once work resumes the plan is to connect the new pavement to a section of work completed on Rowland Street.
“We were paving and doing water main work at the Rowland intersection like 6-7 years ago so, we’re going to match up to that existing paving. Next year as well from Dease where we started this year, we’re heading southbound to Victoria, so for Simpson Street, it’s going to see another big year of construction next year.”
