Work on walkway resumes

WORK ON DOWNTOWN TRANSIT TERMINAL DELAYED BY A MONTH

Work on a stalled walkway project is expected to resume shortly.

But City officials report the start on a larger project downtown has been postponed for about a month.

A project adding a pedestrian walkway to the Scenic Drive overpass of 5 Avenue North began earlier this year. But construction halted earlier this month.

“Unfortunately, the contractor had supplier problems with the handrail manufacturer,” says Richard Brummond, the City’s road infrastructure manager. But that’s been resolved. “They have the handrails now,” and work should resume this week.

“We are estimating the sidewalk can be open to pedestrian traffic by Monday.”

For next year, Brummond says, the City is working with Alberta Transportation on a design for a walkway across the Crowsnest Trail — completing a pedestrianfriendly walkway along Scenic Drive from the Legacy Ridge area all the way downtown.

That’s expected to be built as a separate pedestrian bridge, Brummond says, rather than as a roadway extension like the current project.

Downtown, meanwhile, work on the long-awaited transit terminal was expected to begin with pile driving at the start of December.

But now, officials say, the general contractor is taking more time to review the subcontractors’ bids before awarding a contract.

“This, combined with the Christmas break, has moved breaking ground into January,” says project manager Ric Johnston.

When completed, the parkand-ride facility will provide 10 bays for transit buses as well as three full levels of paid parking above.