City clarifies S. Boundary intentions
While it will continue to treat the stretch as rural, city says certain maintenance projects will likely occur as needed
The City of Medicine Hat is clarifying its position that some repair work for South Boundary Road could proceed over the next two years, though major remaking of the route won’t go ahead until it is needed.
The state of the cityowned road has been a sore spot for residents of Desert Blume, a community in Cypress County, where homeowners complain the road surface is dangerous and in need of repair.
Urban politicians and planners however, say it is maintaining the road at a rural standard because of low population and use.
The News recently reported that the a 10-year major capital construction plan in the new city budget states the route between Southridge Drive and the Seven Persons coulee isn’t scheduled to become a fourlane arterial road until 2023.
Planners say rehabilitating portions will likely occur sooner.
“Essentially these are two issues,” municipal works general manager Dwight Brown told the city’s infrastructure committee on Feb. 1.
“There’s a long-term plan. In the meantime, we’ve committed to look at where we want to do some upgrades.
“That’s separate from the ultimate buildout (to four lanes).”
He also said the city has committed to discussions with Cypress County and is evaluating spots on South Boundary Road that could be included.
The department plans to bring its upcoming road maintenance plan for 2017 forward by the end of the month, said Brown, though there is a “considerable backlog” of projects in the city.
“We maintain our roads the best we can with the resources that we have,” said Coun. Les Pearson.
Other committee members, Couns. Robert Dunamowski and Julie Friesen, said the city has enjoyed a good relationship with the county, including on the road issue.
“We have to be careful to work together on this,” said Friesen.
“Dollars are tight and we have to be aware of that,” said Dumanowski.
According to traffic counts, the stretch of road east of Southridge Drive sees about 3,500 vehicles per day. By comparison, Dunmore Road in Medicine Hat sees 20,000.
“(South Boundary volume) is essentially that of a residential road, understanding however, that people use it as a bypass,” said Brown.
The larger project, involving rebuilding the entire road base and widening the route to four lanes likely won’t occur until population in the area grows, said Brown.
Growth is cited in the budget line item, which shows the original proposal was predicated on the completion of the now bankrupt Cimmaron development on the south side.
Planners are also waiting on the decision to realign Highway No. 3 in the long term before it finalizes a new crossing of the coulee to complete a through route across the south end.