Tranquille Road to reopen to traffic on Nov. 23 – Kamloops This Week

Construction of the $12-million Tranquille Road sewer main project is wrapping up for the season, but the project will extend into next year, due to pandemic-related delays.

City of Kamloops capital projects manager Darren Crundwell said the project was initially anticipated to be one year in length. However, at the onset of the pandemic, which arrived at the beginning of construction season, council put a pause on planned projects yet to start in order to reevaluate its budget.

Crundwell said the project was originally scheduled to start in March, but began in May. As a result of the lost time, work will now carry over into 2021.

Council actually put everything on hold, Crundwell said. If it wasnt a project we hadnt already started, like West Victoria Street that we were committed to, it was put on hold.

Crundwell said the project is now halfway complete. Work is done from Southill Street to Singh Street. As of Monday, Nov. 23, Tranquille Road will reopen to traffic, though some temporary lane closures and speed restrictions will occur to complete the centre median and Goodwin Avenue retaining wall.

The project scope primarily consists of replacing the sewer main, a one-metre in diameter pipe carrying sewage for the entire North Shore. In addition, improvements were made between Southill Street and Desmond Street and at the Desmond Street-Tranquille Road intersection. A new multi-use pathway was constructed on the south side of Tranquille between Southill and Desmond and a new bus bay pull-out was also constructed in the area.

We did everything we could because we were essentially ripping up the whole road, Crundwell said. We did make improvements to pedestrian safety, traffic safety improvements, landscaping improvements. But the majority of the project, and the reason why we were in the ground, was to replace the sewer main.

Crundwell said crews adjusted to COVID-19 work procedures and no outbreaks have occurred on a city project to date. Historically and culturally significant archeological discoveries were made, including a few arrow heads. Crundwell said no delays occurred from the finds. He expects additional discovery to be made during construction next year.

Work is expected to resume in the spring and is anticipated to conclude next fall.

Go here to read the rest:
Tranquille Road to reopen to traffic on Nov. 23 - Kamloops This Week