Construction crews will soon beripping up sections of 101 Ave for phase one of the Lac La Biche County’s multi-year Main Street surface and utility revitalization project, aa councillors have approved the budget and designs for phases two and three.
Starting this week, construction to install new water and sewer infrastructure and replace curbs, gutters and sidewalks along the western portion of Main Street between 105 St. and 103 St., is expected to last until early September.
Some disruptions
Residents can expect construction to limit traffic to one lane each way, while nearby residents and businesses can expect to periodically receive notices for short-term water service interruptions as the first step in the project gets underway, say municipal officials.
The utility upgrades and roadway improvements that are just beginning, are one of the many projects Lac La Biche County council is planning in order to improve and upgrade the infrastructure and design of the hamlet’s downtown core.
The project start follows council’s recent approval for a design concept and project budget brought forward by V3 Companies of Canada, a consulting firm contracted by the County to conceptualize a functional streetscape design for all three phases. Initial estimates for the overall three-phase project, replacing above and below-ground structures has a $15.9 million budget.
Lac La Biche County Mayor Mayor Omer Moghrabi says the project fills more of a need than just replacing the aging infrastructure. As the first phase starts, Mogrhabi says the design features have been incorporated so that there is a distinct change in atmosphere from the first set of lights coming off the highway and into the community’s urban center.
Phasing it in
Lac La Biche County administrators have been in discussion with consultants for almost three years, focusing on the revitalization of the main thouroughfare through the community’s downtown core.
When coming up with design elements, the consulting firm’s Director Nick Pryce says the focus for the Lac La Biche streetscape design is to create an attractive space that features design elements to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians. He says the plan will also add opportunities for outdoor eating and other foot traffic activities, utilizing communal spaces, benches, decorative lighting. He says the local design is uniquely different from other municipalities.
One of those unique4 elements is the inclusion of sidewalk “bulb-outs,” — extensions of curbs located at crosswalks — to narrow a streets width at the intersections from curb-to-curb.
“The purpose of the "bulb-out” is to slow traffic down... to make sure there is clear visibility between parked vehicles and the pedestrian,” explains Pryce. “The pedestrian feels safe before crossing and if you're in a wheelchair, or if you're someone who's got mobility impairment it is shortening the distance.”
More design, less parking
Due to the fact the parking will continue to be angled along the majority of the Main Street in the new makeover, Pryce says the new design features will inevitably lead to reduced parking along the main strip. Based on current models for the streetscape project, total parking loss is calculated to be around 18 stalls, Pryce recently told council.
“Yes, we are losing some parking stalls — but we're not losing a significant amount in context to parking overall,” he added.
Although county councillor Colin Cote supports the added safety and beautification of the design, he does have concerns over how the project will impact residents’ access to downtown parking.
“I really want to see our Main Street be pedestrian friendly, but we have cars, we have trucks and we're not going to be able to train absolutely everybody to park once and walk to three stores,” said Cote, expecting some leeway in the parking situation as the second phase planning rolls out over the next year. “I want to make sure we don't lose parking spaces.”
Approval still needed
from Alberta Transportation
Although municipal officials have been planning the Main Street changes for years, the section of roadway is still technically the property of Alberta Transportation. Municipal staff and provincial officials have been discussing the ‘de-gazzetting’ of the road — part of Highway 55 — from the provincial highway system to a municipally-controlled road.
The County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Ken Van Buul, says administrators are currently working on a Care and Control Agreement to submit to Alberta Transportation to improve the likelihood of a smooth transition.
There is potential that the revitalization project could be delayed or changed if the transfer of road responsibility and maintenance from the province to the municipality isn’t approved.
“We've made our pitch,” said VanBuul. “It's an ongoing issue that we are well aware of, and we are working through the hoops, dotting I’s and crossing T's to make sure the project happens.”
