Work is nearly complete on the realignment of a key downtown intersection.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
July 30, 2014 - 12:58 PM
KAMLOOPS - After a year delay and several months of construction the work connecting access to Riverside Park and the downtown core is nearly complete.
Last summer a the city backed off the project because the cost was higher than anticipated and money wasn't available in the capital plan budget to cover it. When it finally resumed, the result was the realignment of Lorne Street with Lansdowne and Victoria Streets at 1 Avenue and improved pedestrian access to Riverside Park, though at a higher cost than the original tender.
Work began in April on the $2.2 million project, increased from the original $1.8 million budget, and for the past two weeks the intersection in front of city hall has been completely closed to traffic during paving.
This week crews finished painting and installed traffic lights to prepare for a July 31 reopening. The rest of the work, including landscaping, should be complete around the end of August.
Traffic heading southbound off of Lorne Street will now be controlled by a traffic signal and westbound traffic will only be able to turn right from Victoria Street at 1 Avenue.
Public Works Director Jen Fretz says the project is on budget so far but the final numbers will not be tallied until the project is mostly complete and staff has had a chance to review the work with the contractor.
The project is the final phase of the Lorne Street beautification project, which has seen road, lighting and landscaping upgrades as well as new art and signage installations.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014