Jasper Avenue’s fancy lights are missing 32 months after construction

For all intents and purposes the work looks done on a re-built stretch of Jasper Avenue from 100th to 102nd Street.

The flowers are in bloom, the benches are ready for pedestrians, and unique sidewalks of stone line the street. But look a little closer and something doesn’t match.

“We’ve been disappointed that it’s taken so long to finish off the last few elements,” said Ian O’Donnell, vice president of the Downtown Edmonton Community League.

It all has to do with the existing street lights and traffic light poles that weren’t part of the original, grand plans.

When the $20-million streetscape project got underway in 2012, a specific vision was presented. Among the features: decorative street lights with smooth, curved poles.

“We’ve been a little puzzled as to why the last few pieces aren’t installed,” O’Donnell said.

“I don’t know all the specifics of the delays,” City of Edmonton Ward 6 Councillor Scott McKeen said.

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“I think there’s been some complexity – because they were a very creative design – in making sure all the components are going to work, and there’s been no deadline pressure there.”

McKeen explained that the lights were custom designed and built for the city, which takes time. He said it’s important that the lights work properly when they are installed, even if that means waiting longer for them to go up.

However, 32 months have passed since construction wrapped up, which leads to the question: how complex can decorative street lights be?

“I haven’t asked for a specific time line on it. I’m not here to argue that they shouldn’t be up by now. My only solace I take here is that there is no particular rush,” McKeen explained, alluding to the existing lights in place.

The city has routinely put in stylized street lights in other locations, including on 108th Street north and south of Jasper Avenue, and on the approaches to Walterdale Hill as part of the new bridge construction.

The re-built stretch of Jasper Avenue from 100th to 102nd Street is phase one of an ambitious plan to rebuild other sections of the downtown road. A public engagement campaign has been launched for the western stretch, from 109th to 124th streets.

“Certainly it’s a reminder we need to finish off some of these kind of jobs first, before we consider progressing with some other ones,” O’Donnell said.

The decorative street lights should be up later this year, three years after construction was complete.