Chinook Parkway expansion will connect northeast to extensive path network

The City of Swift Current will be funding a $219,000 expansion of the Chinook Parkway to complete the connection of the pathway system into the Sask Valley subdivision.

Council approved the construction of a one kilometre stretch of new pathway which will run from the existing path end near Regier Honda and under bridges on both Highway #4 and the Transcanada Highway. The project will be funding 40 per cent by the City of Swift Current ($219,546) and 60 per cent by the Federal Government ($329,319) through the Canadaactive Transportation Fund Contribution

Agreement.

“This is a very big step forward into the connectivity of our pathway system,” noted Mitch Minken, General Manager of Infrastructure and Operations.

When completed, the pathway will be one of just three official locations for pedestrians to cross the Transcanada Highway, joining links at Central Ave. North and 11th Ave. N.W. as the safe crossing spots.

In order to connect the northeast portion of the City to the extensive network of pathways currently in place throughout the community, the scope of the pathway project will include construction of approximately one kilometre of pathway, installation of lighting and park furniture, plus landscaping, fencing and plantings.

As the pathway runs underneath bridges on provincial highways, the City is working with the Ministry of Highways to secure permission to complete the project.

“We’ve had to do earth work testing to make sure that everything is good. Right now we’re in the midst of negotiating the terms of what that construction will look like,” Minken explained.

“We’re probably going to need to extend the embankment to be able to have a ledge to have our pathway on, but that will be a part of the construction.”

“It’ll be challenging because it is right underneath a bridge, and we’ll have to support that.”

Additionally, he noted that proper construction material will need to be utilized to avoid any silt from the banks from entering the Swift Current Creek.

Swift Current’s pathway system received a major boost this past year when approximately 11 kilometres of additional paved pathways and sidewalks were added throughout the community as part of a $5.9 million Active Pathways Project. Swift Current contributed roughly $1.6 million to that project, with $2.39 million from the federal government and just shy of $2 million from the provincial government.

Minken noted that pathways have become an integral part of daily life in Swift Current.

“We’ve seen, particularly the Pathway along 11th Ave. N.W. and along the North Service Road, we’ve seen major activity when that was opened up. In fact before it was opened up people were using that pathway. So the initiative by the federal government is a good one.”

“I remember watching people following the paving machine as it was laying down pavement when we first opened it up. So it’s well used, and I anticipate this section will be very well used.

Last year the City completed the link from Sask Valley to Saskatchewan Drive, and that pathway has also seen much more activity.

“People are walking to get to the Mall and do their shopping rather than jumping in their car. So it’s a great initiative for the City.”