Weather delays have forced the HCL waterline construction team to extend work on 104B Ave. into October. Hopes are still high that construction and the paving of the residental road alongside Central Elementary School will be completed by Oct. 15.
This is the second extension of the job’s deadline, after the road was meant to be finished on Aug. 31 and then again on Sept. 30. The rainy season that hit the hamlet in mid-August severely slowed the process as the packed earth quickly turned to mud, forcing crews to shut down and wait for dryer conditions.
“It’s tough to fight the weather, but we hope the road will be completed by October 15,” said Shadia Amblie, a spokesperson for Lac La Biche County.
The construction job, which began on July 18, will replace cast iron water pipes that are over 50 years old. The pipes feed into the Lac La Biche airport and Plamondon reservoirs. The waterlines do not affect Central Elementary School directly, but residents have had to deal with the construction and intermittent water services since early July.
“It’s been inconvienient for sure,” said Shayne Nowsad, a resident on 104B Ave. “We’ve had to deal with intermittent water sometimes, and parking has been tough.”
According to Amblie, replacing the pipes is absolutely necessary to alleviate concerns of a possible waterline break.
“These are major waterlines, they need to be replaced, and we understand that this is a lengthy project,” she said.
Barry Hunka, the contractor in charge of construction on the site was contacted several times by the Post, but could not be reached for further comment regarding the new October timeline for the project.
What about Central School?
Throughout the on-going construction process, Central Elementary School has been indirectly affected due to their buses having to switch routes for pick-up and drop-off from 101B Ave to 102 Street.
“It has been difficult, but our bus drivers and parents have done a great job adapting and we have settled nicely into a new routine,” said newly appointed Central principal, Samear Abougouche. “Although it has been inconvenient, it is what it is, and I understand the necessity of improving the infrastructure.”
Abougouche also confirmed that while the construction wasn’t ideal, students and staff have not been disturbed by the construction noise, and there have not been any reports of safety concerns, or children wandering into the construction site.
“It really hasn’t been too bad, we’ll co-operate as best we can to help these guys finish up the project as soon as possible,” Abougouche said.
When asked if Central School has been given a timeline for when they can expect the construction to be completed, Abougouche was unsure whether the County had given a firm date.
“I haven’t heard anything definite yet, all the information I’ve got is from the Post.”
