REGINA - The City of Regina has provided an update on the progress made on $113 million of road and infrastructure projects in 2023.
At a news conference Wednesday, officials could point to over half of scheduled construction projects completed or in progress, some of which are multiyear.
“The weather has been very cooperative for the city and over half of the projects are completed,” said Kurtis Doney, Acting Executive Director of Citizen Service.
Doney said work on 159 renewal projects is completed, including 8.5 kms of local road upgrades through the Residential Road Renewal Program, 10.1 kms of major road upgrades through the Street Infrastructure Renewal Program, as well as other water, sewer and traffic upgrades.
Other major roadway projects, including Albert Street and the McCarthy Boulevard renewal, are also on track. Doney called the McCarthy project an example of a “road renewal project that is progressing very well. It is on time and on budget.” Both are expected to be completed by the end of September.
Other major projects are now done. The Broad Street Cast Iron Pipe replacement project was completed in early July and the Lewvan Drive renewal project, to renew the roads on that street, was finished in mid-July five weeks earlier than planned.
Work in the city to improve water, wastewater and drainage systems continues, with the city stating it replaced 1.8 kms of water mains and has relined 3.1 kms of sewer and 2.5 kms of watermains so far, with more underway.
The city also says it is also prioritizing lead service connections, with 115 replaced so far and more continuing into the fall and winter.
Over five kilometres of sidewalk repairs have been completed so far this year. According to Chris Warren, Director of Roadways and Transportation, the city has a sidewalk repair program that assesses the state of their sidewalks every year and repairs the most severe deficiencies first. They received an investment of $2.3 million in 2022-23 towards sidewalk repairs.
Several pedestrian safety improvements are being added around the city this summer. The city is highlighting five new school zone flashing signs, four permanent and 15 temporary driver feedback signs, and five new traffic calming curb locations.
There are some major projects that are multi year. Doney pointed to the Eastern Pressure Solutions project as one that will take multiple years inside of the city. The Northeast Drainage Improvement Project is also multiyear.
There had been emergency projects, such as one this summer to address an emergency failure of the stormwater system near the Albert Street bridge. A sinkhole had erupted on a nearby property as a result of the failure, and the ensuing work has created some delays for traffic on the bridge.
Doney said the work is still ongoing; a temporary system is now in place and they are working on a long-term solution.
“The focus had been on securing the area and making sure there is no impact to residents and nearby neighbours,” Doney said. A long term solution is likely for 2024 and 2025.
Doney thanks members of the public for their patience in navigating the roads during construction season.
“We understand ongoing road construction can be challenging for drivers and pedestrians, and we thank everyone for their patience and slow down during construction. Please continue to slow down during these construction zones and help ensure everyone's safety. Our workers, their families and your families are relying on you,” Doney said.
The plan is for construction season to continue in Regina until late October or when the cold weather arrives.
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