Construction work on Reid Street downtown Quesnel will be put on pause this weekend, as the 44th Annual Billy Barker Days festival rolls into town on Thursday July 19.
The festival runs until Sunday July 22, and during that time, the construction site will be put to sleep, says Eagle Rock Construction community liaison Tracey Roenicke.
Many workers will take the opportunity to return home to visit family, she says, and the purpose of the break is to reduce the disruption to festival-goers over the weekend.
Some workers will remain to ensure safety on the construction site, with fences remaining to dissuade pedestrians from entering the construction areas.
Billy Barker Days’ Gold Dust Mall, which in previous years was located along Reid Street, will this year be located in front of the West Fraser Centre.
Come Monday July 23, sidewalks will be poured in Phase I of the project, which stretches from Carson Avenue to St Laurent Avenue.
This week, storm pipe was laid in Phase II prior to crews beginning to close down the site in preparation for Billy Barker Days.
Construction on Reid Street began in April this year, as crews began digging up the street to replace 1952 water mains. Construction on the 400 block began at the end of June, with the section from Carson Avenue to St Laurent Avenue tackled first.
Along with the water main replacements, other changes to the street will include wider sidewalks, single-lane traffic and improved street lighting and benches.
The project has a hard end date of Sept. 20, 2018.
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