Reconstruction of King’s Highway in the west end of town is set to begin Aug. 23 and will continue into next July, excluding the months of November-May.
The work will take place from 150 metres west of McIrvine Road to Keating Avenue, covering 625 metres of King’s Highway, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown said at a public meeting Thursday night at the Civic Centre.
The project will include such things as 560 metres of watermain replacement, increasing the lane width to 3.5 metres, street light and traffic light relocation, as well as complete road reconstruction including grading and a new concrete curb and gutter, which is slated to be completed over the next two months.
The work also will mean the removal of five of the memorial veteran elm trees, which will be replaced with smaller four-inch trees.
Laying the top level of asphalt and doing the landscaping will be completed in 2005.
Two lanes of traffic should remain open at all times, but if there is only one, at least two traffic patrollers will be used. Overnight, two lanes always will be open.
A detour will be in effect for U.S.-bound traffic, which will re-route them behind McDonald’s on Colonization Road West.
“We are making every effort to minimize the disturbance to businesses and property owners,” Brown said, adding entrances will not be impeded and that there will be access for emergency vehicles at all times.
Concerns for the construction area include traffic to and from Fort Frances High School, “Hamburger Alley” traffic, and whether the fall weather will be conducive to the completion of the work or not.
Bay City Contractors (Thunder Bay) Inc. assured the public last night that dust suppression measures will be taken, and temporary water services will be provided to any house or business that will lose water for more than eight hours, with restaurants having water at all times.
For any property that will lose water for less than eight hours, the contractor will provide adequate notification.
“Any construction program on the main highway, there’s going to be a little pain,” said Milt Strachan, the town’s transportation superintendent. “There’s no getting around that there are going to be some hold-ups.”
Strachan advised local motorists to avoid the area as much as possible to avoid traffic bottlenecks.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
