Committing to Pond Street

No funds in capital budget to redesign street this year, but public works committee recommends city sign letter of intent

The City of Charlottetown remains committed to redesigning part of one of its busiest side streets for pedestrians and traffic over safety concerns.

The plan to install a sidewalk and curbing on Pond Street, which connects University Avenue and Queen Street and runs in between a P.E.I. liquor store and Value Village, was not in the city’s capital budget for this year but the project is still very likely to happen.

The public works committee is asking council to support signing a letter of intent with District Heat to reconstruct the street during the 2021-22 capital budget season so that all parties involved can plan and budget for the work accordingly.

Council is expected to deal with this issue at its regular monthly public meeting, March 9.

There are projects the city has talked about doing for years, such as a roundabout which would connect Belvedere Avenue, Brackley Point Road and St. Peters Road. However, what this letter of intent does for Pond Street, is commit the city to doing the work.

Scott Adams, manager of public works, said funding limitations is ultimately was scuttled the Pond Street project from happening this year.

As part of this work, District Heat has been in discussion to work with the city and reconstruct the heating line, which is located under the road. Doing the work above and underground at the same time is expected to result in a cost-savings for all parties as well as reduce the need to dig up the street in the future.

Adams said the letter of intent means the city can look at setting money aside for asphalt, execution of the project and utility work.

During a recent meeting of the public works committee, Coun. Mitchell Tweel voiced his concern as to why the project is being put off.

“This committee recommended this project go forward,’’ Tweel said.

Coun. Mike Duffy, chairman of the committee, assured Tweel the project isn’t being cancelled, just merely postponed a year.

“I don’t want to go through this dilemma next year,’’

Tweel responded, underlining the importance he feels the project had better happen in 2021. “I would think it would be top priority to make safe.’’

During the leadup to the capital budget process, more than $24 million worth of work was recommended throughout the city. Due to budget constraints, that figure was reduced by $9 million, meaning some work has to be delayed.