Traffic on West Victoria Street will be disrupted when infrastructure repairs mean parts of it are torn up, but what exactly it looks like in the future remains to be seen.

(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Replacing old pipes may not sound exciting, and will cause major traffic disruption, but it will give Kamloops a chance to fix up one of the most used roads in the city.

The section of West Victoria Street between Overlanders Bridge and 1 Avenue will require repair work in the next couple of years as water and sanitary systems — built in 1907 — reach the end of their lifespans.

Darren Crundwell, the city’s capital projects director, says such a large project means things could change for one of the most used roads in Kamloops.

“We can identify a number of priorities,” he says. “We know they’re at the age it doesn’t make sense to keep fixing and repairing.”

The city is in the early stages, but the bare minimum cost to city taxpayers is around $3 million, he says. Because of the size and location of the project, it’s the best time to consider any other upgrades or alterations, including improved pedestrian infrastructure, beautification, lighting and changes to the road itself.

What exactly is to come will be decided by the politicians, though.

“We’re gong to take a report back to council to see what kind of vision they have for that corridor,” he says. “There’ll probably be a pretty big range of options and numbers.”

The report, expected to be in front of council in May or June, as city staff seek direction. Crundwell says that minimum cost of $3 million could grow substantially, depending on what councillors want to see.

While a significant project, and located near Overlanders Bridge, Crundwell doesn’t expect it to have near the negative impact the bridge repairs did in 2015.

He doesn't expect the work to start for a couple of years.

“We’re trying to get in front of council as soon as possible to get direction,” he says. “We’re looking at a 2019-2020 construction period.”

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