A few more roads in town are on their way to being a bit smoother this summer.
City council decided to increase its road overlay budget to $171,600 this year from the usual $50,000 during a March budget meeting, and now large sections of five formerly bumpy roads are being worked on.
The roads planned to be resurfaced are Medeek Ave. near Braun Island, the Frank Street crossing by the highway, the south end of Pear St., Haugland Ave. between Molitor St. and Eby St., and the bottom of Lanfear Hill.
Pear St., Haugland Ave. and Medeek Ave. were pulverized late last month by local company White Bear Industries. Pulverizing machines demolish the asphalt pavement and a certain depth of the base of the material up to 14 inches into the road and chew it back up. This chewed up pavement becomes part of a new base, where fresh asphalt can be laid upon.
The pulverizer won’t be used for the other two roads though; the city’s director of public works’ Herb Dusdal said that the machine is used throughout the province, but could be used again depending on availability, budget, and road conditions.
In the case of Frank St. and Lanfear, the city will probably remove the existing asphalt from the area to be worked on.
Frank St. will be done later this summer, and the city is waiting to hear on a cycling grant before working on Lanfear. This grant would cover some of the costs and add bike lanes to the bottom of the street section.
An accelerated road program has been one of this city council’s priorities, and along with the five overlays, there are two major road reconstructions on the books this year.
Work began on Davis Ave. from Kalum St. to Sparks St. at the end of March, and is estimated to cost $1.1 million.
During late budget deliberations this spring, council also decided to go ahead with road reconstruction of McConnell Ave. from Thomas St. to Marshall St. The budget for the project, including road, watermain replacement, and a new sewer main, comes to $2.2 million.
The project has gone out to tender and work is anticipated to start in mid to late June, with completion aimed for late September.
