SASKATOON – City officials have outlined four major infrastructure projects planned for the 2016 construction season. Roadwork includes a $4 million facelift to Broadway Avenue between the Broadway Bridge and 8th Street.
Efforts include fixing water mains, some more than 100 years old, that cross Broadway. The road surface would also receive rehabilitation work over the course of the four to five month project.
Construction could result in the closure of the Broadway Bridge for about one week.
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“We are dealing with hundred-year-old stuff. As we go, if we find something along the way that needs fixing, we’ll catch that too,” said Mike Gutek, director of major projects with the City of Saskatoon.
Despite traffic disruptions in the area, Sarah Marchildon, executive director of the Broadway Business Improvement District, said she’s excited about the work.
“We are going to have fences up in the middle of us for the summer, so that’ll be a piece of it. But we’re frankly, hoping to darn near decorate those fences and make it a different version of the vibrancy,” Marchildon said.
Water service to businesses like restaurants shouldn’t be interrupted by construction in the area, Marchildon said.
The other infrastructure projects planned for 2016 include continued work on the Victor Road Interchange at Highway 11, rehabilitation on the Ruth Street overpass on Idylwyld Drive and improvements at Attridge Drive and Central Avenue. Work is expected to take between four months and the entire construction season.
Information regarding detours and restrictions will be released once the city finalizes its summer construction schedule.