Centre Street: 7th Avenue to Roundabout – Design Only

Project Description: The reconstruction of Centre Street has been identified as a Town priority. The first section of Centre Street was completed in 2021. Significant work was undertaken to establish a surface design methodology to maintain two lanes and parallel parking opportunities and significantly improve pedestrian mobility. This project aims to complete the design so that the remaining section of Centre Street 7th Avenue to Roundabout (RAB) is ready for tendering when funds are available. The design of this project has two primary components: Centre Street Design – Surface and Underground Utilities, and Utility Relocations – Removal of Power and Relocation of Shallow Utilities to CP Lands.

Resident Impact: Geotechnical work and utility locates may occur during the completion of this design. Short lane closures will be in effect while work is being completed.

Project Benefit: The 7th Avenue to RAB project will benefit the community by providing a detailed plan and design for the remaining section of Centre Street. This design will ensure that everything is prepared and in place before construction happens.

Project Status: Project design to be presented to Council in coming months.

Water Tower Risk Management Plan

Project Description: As part of the Water Tower Demolition project, it was identified that there are elevated levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at the old Water Tower. It is unknown whether they are from natural or other sources currently. The purpose of the Water Tower Risk Management Plan is to obtain approval for a risk management plan (RMP) for the management of elevated levels of PAHs in the proximity of the water tower. These substances were the by-product of coal or oil combustion for heating in the past.

Resident Impact: Potential Lane closure on 8th Avenue SE and Crescent Avenue SE during the completion of this project.

Project Benefit: The Water Tower Risk Management Plan will result in creating an RMP or other means of mitigating the elevated levels of PAHs.

Project Status: Project kick-off by mid-June

Update - July 21, 2022

Crews will be drilling boreholes within the Water Tower Park and the surrounding area between July 27 and 29, weather depending.

This project will allow crews to drill narrow holes in the ground to sample, test, and monitor soil, as well as check for gas, water, or minerals underground.

Drilling locations include:

• 3^rd Street SE.
• 7^th Avenue SE.
• 8^th Avenue SE.
• Alley between 7^th and 8^th Avenue SE.
• Alley between 8^th and 9^th Avenue SE.
• Little Bow Park and the alley used to access it.
• Water Tower Park – Please note, drilling will be done early in the day to minimize conflicts with public use.

Intermittent road lane closures may be in effect during drilling, and alley work may require short closures to through traffic.

We ask residents to obey all signs and flaggers and watch out for workers while this work is underway.

Hampton's Bypass Connector Road

Project Description: The Hampton's Bypass Connector Road project is designed to improve the road's surface to a paved standard, providing increased service to the travelling public. A temporary gravel bypass connector road was built and placed into service in June 2013 to provide an alternate road for traffic that would otherwise be travelling through the Hamptons development. The ideal solution for this project is to rebuild and pave the road in its ultimate alignment. However, funding may be a limiting factor. The Town may also investigate other improvements, such as tree planting and developing a pathway to support a future Happy Trails linkage to the Little Bow Canal.

Resident Impact: A portion of 2nd Avenue and 20th Street will be closed during the completion of this project. Short-term lane closures may be necessary to undertake the geotechnical investigation.

Project Benefit: Improve the surface of the Hamptons Bypass Road to a paved standard, providing increased service to the travelling public and less traffic through the Hamptons.

Project Status: Project construction is rescheduled to occur for 2023 following a change in scope to enhance the bypass, approved by Council on August 8 at their regular Council Meeting.

Update - September 19, 2022

In summary, the existing road alignment cannot accommodate all truck turning movements. The land that would be required to address this issue is privately owned. The ultimate alignment or alignment for this road, previously approved in the Hamptons Area Structure Plan circa 2008, can accommodate all truck turning movements. Ignoring the land acquisition that would be necessary to build on the existing alignment, the construction costs as comparable for the two options. A Happy Trail connector pathway was also proposed along the ultimate alignment, as well as converting the existing 4-way stop intersections at 2^nd Ave SE/Hamptons Blvd SE and 20^th Street NE/Hampton Hills Drive NE into roundabouts.

After discussion, Council directed the Administration to begin the design of the ultimate alignment, including the pathway and roundabouts, along with public consultation. The proposed schedule is as follows:

Fall 2022 – Public Consultation (Approx. September 23 to October 7) and Detailed Design

Fall 2022 – Presentation of Public Feedback and Internal Review to Council

Late 2022 – Completion of Design

Early 2023 – Tender

Spring/Summer 2023 – Construction (estimated at two months)

Summer 2025 – Top lift paving of the road

An online public consultation has been prepared for feedback. Residents are encouraged to leave feedback via this forum or whatever alternative is convenient. The online platform is located here:

www.hamptonsbypass.com

It will be active from September 23 to October 7. Following the end of the consultation, the comments will be summarized and presented to the council.

NE Sanitary Odor Control

Project Description: The presence of foul sanitary odours around 2nd Ave and 5th Street NE downstream from the Main Sanitary Lift Station has been identified as a Town priority to address. The purpose of the NE Sanitary Odor Control project is to minimize odours from the sanitary sewer system at this location and the Main Sanitary Lift Station itself.

Resident Impact: During the completion of this project, there may be lane closures at the intersection of 5th Street and 2nd Ave NE.

Project Benefit: The work being completed on 5th Street and 2nd Ave NE will result in the minimalization of odours from the utility access hole and the Main Sanitary Lift Station.

Project Status: Project progressing nicely.

Riparian Corridor Vegetation

Project Description: The Town has recently received a grant to improve riparian habitat in the former Wallaceville area. As part of the Riparian Corridor, Vegetation project, trees and vegetation will be strategically placed to improve riparian areas (I.e., trees to shade the river). (Also see Flood Impacted Property Clean-up project)

Resident Impact: There are no anticipated resident impacts while the work is underway. Areas, where the work is being completed, may see short restrictions (I.e., hours).

Project Benefit: This project will improve the riparian area of the Highwood River and provide natural habitats for local wildlife.

Project Status: This project will take place in the fall of 2022 or 2023.

Upstream Riparian Rehab

Project Description: The Upstream Riparian Rehab project is intended to mitigate the erosion of the riverbank adjacent to the former Mercier property.

Resident Impact: There are no anticipated resident impacts while this work is underway except for the area where the work will be undertaken. Residents are asked to be aware of construction traffic through Beachwood, which is the point of access for this project.

Project Benefit: The Upstream Riparian Rehab project will provide further river migration to the south, which, unchecked, would threaten the Osprey platform and main Fortis power feed to the SW.

Project Status: This project will take place in the winter of 2022 or 2023.

River Clean-up & Bank Armouring – Design and Construction - Fall 2023

Project Description: This project is part of the flood mitigation program currently underway throughout the Town of High River, to achieve the following:

1. Complete the removal of any debris that may pose a hazard to the public.

2. Protect the Town’s residents from future flooding

3. Reinforce the streambank with riprap

Resident Impact: This project will include access to Town property, debris removal, and site remediation to its original state

Project Benefit: This project will benefit the community by removing debris that may pose a hazard to the public and reinforcing the river bank to protect residents from potential future flooding

Centre Street: South of the Roundabout – Design and Construction

Project Description: This project is a road rehabilitation project. The road is a section on Center Street in the Town of High River. The project Starts at the end of the south limit of the roundabout and ends at the south Town boundary.

Resident Impact: Geotechnical work and utility locates have been completed. The road will be closed to public during construction.

Project Benefit: The 7th Avenue to RAB project will benefit the community by providing a detailed plan and design for the remaining section of Centre Street. This design will ensure that everything is prepared and in place before construction happens.

Project Status: The project design has been finalized with two options: Limited resurfacing and Full Depth Reconstruction. The construction phase is scheduled to commence on or after September 13th with completion by October 15, 2022.

Flood Impacted Property Clean Up

Project Description: The Flood Impacted Property Clean Up project is designed to return the former Wallaceville lands, former Gavel lands, former Rio Vista lands and former Beachwood lands to a naturalized state and provide for improved/enhanced fish/wildlife habitat under the WRRP grant funding. Given the WRRP Grant funds, several plantings will be implemented to provide shade to deep pools on the Highwood River for fish. The siting of these plantings and species will be undertaken by a professional. (Also see Riparian Corridor Vegetation project)

Resident Impact: This project will have no pathway or roadway closures. Residents are asked to remain a safe distance away from workers while completing this project.

Project Benefit: The work associated with the Flood Impacted Property Clean Up project will improve and expand the habitat for fish and wildlife in the High River area.

Project Status: Project kick-off by mid-June

Landfill Monitoring

NOTE: This project is completed yearly.

Project Description: The Town is required to monitor the inactive landfill as a condition of the reduced setbacks from homes in the area. The annual monitoring occurs twice a year, typically in July and October.

Resident Impact: There are no anticipated resident impacts while work is underway at the landfill and surrounding area.

Project Benefit: The Landfill Monitoring project ensures that the landfill is monitored and that no offsite gas is leaving the site.

Project Status: This project takes place every year. Monitoring events will take place in summer and fall.

NW Lift Station

Project Description: The existing Northwest Sanitary Lift Station has reached the end of its useful life. A replacement lift station has been constructed at the SE corner of High Country Drive and 7th Street NW. Minor deficiency work will be completed in 2022. Also, in 2022, tree planting and landscaping will be completed in this area.

Resident Impact: No significant impacts are anticipated for the remainder of this project.

Project Benefit: The Northwest Lift station services the entire NW of Town and sees flow second only to the Main Lift Station. Its replacement is crucial to the safe and reliable environmental disposal of sanitary sewer wastewater for the Town.

Project Status: The project is completed with only minor deficiencies, tree planting and landscaping remaining.

2020 Miscellaneous Pedestrian Improvements

Project Description: The scope of work for the 2020 Miscellaneous Pedestrian Improvements project is mainly pathway rehabilitation and the addition of one small section of the pathway. Other pedestrian improvements completed as part of the project include concrete bench pad replacements, wheelchair ramp installation, gravel staircase remediation, and lighting improvements.

Resident Impact: This project will have minor impacts on residents as there will be some deficiency repairs. Crews will have appropriate barricades, cones and signage for the work, and pedestrians will have access to walk around.

Project Benefit: Improved safety during the use of pathways. Increased lifecycle to High River's pathways.

Project Status: Work was completed in 2020 and 2021. Minor deficiency repairs are set to be completed in Summer 2022 in the asphalt and landscaping. Lighting improvements along 5th Street SE from 2 Ave to 3 Ave SE is planned to be completed during Summer 2022.

Starting the first week of May, construction crews will be returning to Eagleview to resume the Eagleview Bank Protection Project.

• Who: Contracted Construction Crew
• What: The remaining work for the Eagleview Bank Protection project includes:
  
  • Returning the former CP embankment to its preconstruction level.
    
  • Pathway work.
  • Adding topsoil, seeding and plantings.
• Where: Eagleview - Centre Street at the abandoned CP railway crossing south of Centre Street/High Country Drive.
• When: Work in the Eagleview will go through May between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, with no work on weekends.

Updates:

May 12: It is estimated that the work will take roughly four (4) weeks to complete, weather permitting. Construction traffic will enter and leave the site on Centre Street at the abandoned CP railway crossing south of Centre Street/High Country Drive. This work wraps up the Eagleview Bank Protection project. Residents will be able to enjoy the area and views from Eagleview during the warmer months. Residents are asked to remain a safe distance from the site and obey all signage and flaggers while this work is being completed.

Construction crews are at the Happy Trails crossing South of Eagleview to re-slope and pave the pathway.

• Who: Contracted Construction Crews
• What: Re-slope and pave the pathway.
• Where: Happy Trails crossing South of Eagleview
• When: May 12 - This work will take approximately one week to complete, weather depending. The pathway will be closed to residents between 8 am and 5 pm.
• Why: Improve the accessibility of the pathway while providing a paved walkway for residents.

Updates:

May 12: Construction crews have begun working on re-sloping and paving Happy Trails crossing South of Eagleview.

May 16: Map of pathway work.

7th Street NW Top Lift & Curb Replacement

Project Description: Construction crews are currently working to replace sections of concrete curb along 7th Street NW between High Country Drive and the entrance to the Highwood Golf Club. Once this work is completed, 7th Street NW south of High-Country Drive to the Highwood Golf Course will receive its final lift of pavement.

Resident Impact: Restricted Parking on 7th Street NW and lane closures while paving is underway.

Project Benefit: The work on 7th Street will provide our community with a high-quality roadway system. Curbs will be upgraded to higher quality, and gutters will receive an upgrade to provide proper water management. Paving will provide a high-quality road for local traffic.

Project Status: Construction is currently underway.

Tree Replacement

Project Description: The Tree replacement project has been initiated by the Town of High River due to lost trees. Reestablishing vegetation and trees is a crucial step in the Town's flood recovery journey. This project is part of the Southern Alberta Flood Response program and is currently underway throughout the Town. The Town will be completing the tree replacement project in the Spring of 2022. The tree locations are geographically spread-out throughout the Town in parks and natural areas including but not limited to George Lane Park, Riverside Crescent, Tree Memorial Park, Sunshine Lake, Hamptons, Town Farm, Montrose Pond, Stang Park, Highwood Lake, Cemetery Lands, Mercer Lands, and Wallace Ville.

Resident Impact: There will be minimal resident impact during the completion of this project. Minor pathway closures may occur during the panting of trees.

Project Benefit: The Tree Replacement project will provide High River with a more full and diverse natural landscape for residents to enjoy. Implementation of new trees will assist in rebuilding High River's natural beauty.

Project Status: The Tree Replacement project is currently underway.

12 Avenue Top Lift

Project Description: The 12th Avenue Top Lift is designed to provide a high-quality roadway system for local traffic. 12th Avenue was rebuilt as part of the SW Dike project, including deep utilities and extensions.

Resident Impact: During the work, there will be road, pathway, and lane closures on 12th Avenue to complete the final lift of pavement. This work will take roughly 2-3 days.

Project Benefit: This project enhances the roadway, street space and restores the Happy Trail pathway along 12 Ave. This project also provides a looped water distribution system throughout the SW, resulting in improved reliability and fire protection.

Project Status: Final paving of 12th Avenue and minor concrete repairs are scheduled for the summer of 2022.

2021 Miscellaneous Pedestrian Improvements

Project Description: This is an annual Town project. The 2021 project involves sidewalk and wheelchair ramps replacement, and a crosswalk installation.

Resident Impact: This project will have minor impacts on local residents due to landscaping remediation next to sidewalks (no sidewalk closure). Pedestrians will still be able to pass the work area.

Project Benefit: Improved pedestrian safety during the use of sidewalks.

Project Status: Sidewalk replacement was started in 2021 and completed in 2022. Landscaping will be completed during the summer of 2022.

Transmission Water Line Condition

Project Description: The Town's existing records and data on file for the Water Treatment Plant transmission lines and raw water lines indicate the year of construction range from 1980 to 1985. Recent breaks in 2020 indicate that the water mains are vulnerable to leaks and breaks due to age and condition. This condition assessment aims to identify risk areas before service interruption/breaks.

Resident Impact: There are no serious impacts expected to residents.

Project Benefit: The Town will gain information to determine the condition of the water mains.

Project Status: The inspection is complete. A findings letter will be presented to Council and followed up with a FINAL report in the coming months.

4th Avenue Main Replacement

Project Description: The 4th Avenue Main Replacement project involves the replacement of the deep utilities along 4th Ave from 5th Street SE to 3rd Street SE. Surface enhancement and sidewalk additions will be completed during this project.

Resident Impact: There will be periodic Street and sidewalk closures during the completion of this work.

Project Benefit: This project will restore underground infrastructure that has aged and reached the end of its lifecycle. The addition of sidewalks will enhance pedestrian accessibility.

Project Status: Construction began after the May Long weekend and is currently underway.

24th Street and 4th Avenue SE Top Lift

Project Description: Top lift of asphalt installed along 24th Street from the slip ramp on Hwy 2 to 10th Avenue SE and 4th Avenue SE from 21st Street SE to 24th Street. Concrete curbing replacement will be completed as required.

Resident Impact: Minor impacts to those directly adjacent, but any traffic impacts will be minor. No detours are anticipated.

Project Benefit: The installation of the top lift improves rideability to the road and extends the roadway's lifecycle.

Project Status: Top lift was installed in 2021, and the project is currently in maintenance until late summer 2022. One repair remains at the intersection of 1 Avenue NE and 24th Street. A final inspection on the top lift will be completed at the end of the warranty period. Any additional repairs will be completed as necessary following this inspection.

Water Main Repair at Centre Street and MacLeod Trail

Update Monday, August 30:

Work is progressing. The current detour takes vehicles onto Macleod Trail with a road closure on Centre Street just beyond Sobeys entrance. The entrance to Sobeys is open from Centre Street at the north end. The Macleod Trail detour will take vehicles back to Centre Street with signs posted.

Crews to Complete Water Main Repair at Centre Street and MacLeod Trail

HIGH RIVER – Starting the week of August 8, crews will begin a water main repair at the intersection of Centre Street and Macleod Trail. This project is expected to finish at the end of August.

This repair is due to a major water leak discovered during an inspection completed in June 2022. If the pipe is not replaced soon, a water main break could impact nearby properties and water transmission to parts of downtown and residential areas nearby.

Throughout this project, the intersection of Centre Street and Macleod Trail will be down to one lane of alternating traffic. Traffic lights and flaggers will be present during the project.

Please note that during this project's completion, access to the Sobeys parking lot may be restricted. Sobeys will remain open during this project, and temporary access will be available.

Residents are asked to obey all flaggers and detour signs in the area. The Town understands this may be an inconvenience to High River residents, and thank you for your patience and support as this project is underway.

Please stay tuned to highriver.ca or our social media accounts for project updates, road closures and further information.

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For more information, please contact:

Town of High River
403-652-2110