Staff
North-end residents should be relieved to know the underpass is expected to re-open by this Saturday.
Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown told council last night the special storm sewer fittings that were ordered last week arrived at the site today, as scheduled.
As previously reported, town records had indicated the presence of a storm sewer manhole in the middle of the Third Street intersection, but further field investigation revealed this was not the case.
As a result, special storm sewer fittings had to be ordered and manufactured.
This resulted in an eight-day delay in the work.
But now that the fittings are on site, the work has resumed and is on track to be completed by Saturday.
Until then, vehicles accessing the north end of town must continue to use McIrvine Road crossing in the west end.
Pedestrian traffic, however, will continue to have access through the underpass.
The work, which is comprised of the replacement of the sewer, water, and storm sewer infrastructure at the intersections at Third Street East and Portage Avenue and Fifth Street East and Portage, is part of Phase II of the biomass road project.
In related news, Brown said the town has begun advertising for contractors to repair the Caul Bridge, with the tender closing June 8.
After the tender is awarded, the project is expected to commence July 5 and end by July 30.
Frog Creek Road will be closed to traffic during this time period.
Meanwhile, the new Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre remains on track to open its door next Monday (June 1).
Community Services manager George Bell said computers, furniture, desks, and presentation equipment have arrived and are being installed while staff is trained.
All of the books, DVDs, talking books, and other materials already have been moved from the old library, and Bell thanked all of the volunteers who helped make the move happen.
“I’d especially like to thank Mark Caron, who volunteered his trucks and staff to move the library,” he noted.
Bell pointed out more work is to be done on the outside of the facility. And while the masons and roofers will not be done prior to May 31, as previously hoped, the library still will open as scheduled on June 1.
As for Phase II of the Heritage Tourism Project, Bell said Monday’s storm damaged about half of the large banners along Front Street and Colonization Road East.
These have been taken down and he will have to see what’s involved in getting them repaired (including making an insurance claim).
He noted plans continue for the grand opening on Friday, June 4 and hopefully the banners will be fixed by then.
Meanwhile, all of the interpretive panels have been installed along the waterfront, said Bell, who is looking to see if funds are available to buy viewers for the lookout tower.
