Work is about to begin on the redevelopment of Main Street South following the awarding of the more than $21 million contract to Russell Redi-Mix Concrete.
“We are expecting the equipment to start to mobilize in the first week of November,” director of Public Works ad Operation Mike VanAlstyne said, adding given the delays the contractor is hoping to make up some ground. “They hope to do as much work as they can throughout the winter months. It’s all going to be so weather dependent on how quickly we get going, when winter really hits us with full force, and what that’s going to do to the contractor’s capabilities and scheduling. But I think just any progress for the winter will be progress.”
VanAlstyne expects the contractor will begin with the excavation of the retaining ponds, one on each side of the highway, which make up a large part of the City’s drainage plans for the area and will collect spring runoff, as well as runoff from major weather events.
A portion of the excavation material, estimated at more than 30,000 cubic meters, will be used for the construction of the toboggan hill at Maamawi Park on the Dauphin Recreation Services grounds.
The construction cost of the entire drainage system, including the underground piping, has been set at more than $8 million.
The scope of the roadwork project covers a section of PTH 5A from Whitmore Ave., south to Triangle Road, and includes surface reconstruction with the creation of a divided highway.
The plans call to improve safety in the commercial area by having all local accesses connect to service roads, and service roads connecting to PTH 5A at upgraded intersections. Those service roads will be constructed along both the east and west sides of highway from their existing points south to Triangle Road.
As well, a new intersection allowing access to Dauphin Market Place Mall will be developed, complete with traffic signals.
The project has been delayed by more than a year, and while it has been a long road to get this point, VanAlstyne said the real work is just beginning.
“It’s a long time coming, but we’re excited to have it moving,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of adapting on the fly and a lot of moving parts, but I think we’ll get through and it’ll be a really great project for the city.”
