The City of Fernie reports the contract for the 2023 Road Rehabilitation Program has been awarded with construction expected to get underway in the next month.

This year’s program will redevelop two aging roads in the Annex Neighbourhood, as prioritized in the 2020 Integrated Infrastructure Capital Plan and evaluated by the city’s engineering team. The two roadways are 9th Street and 11th Street, and they will each be rehabilitated from 7th Avenue to 9th Avenue.

The $1.5 million contract has been awarded to Border Holdings Ltd.

The detailed design was completed in the spring using the proposed roadway cross-section for local streets from the 2021 Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP). The Local Street cross-section in the ATMP has a road right-of-way of 20.00 m.

In the Annex, the roadways aren’t as generous, averaging 18.3 m in width. To fit the 9^th and 11^th Street rights-of-way and maintain the spirit of the design, one of the two sidewalks will be removed, and the sidewalk and boulevards narrowed as necessary

The rehabilitation cross-section is a departure from the existing design on 11^th Street, where currently pedestrians share road space with vehicles and stormwater infrastructure is limited. On 9^th Street, a sidewalk hugs the south edge of the road right-of-way from 7^th Avenue to 8^th Avenue. It is in poor condition and at the end of its service life.

New sidewalk is proposed for 9^th Street along the north edge of the road right-of-way to connect to the signalized crosswalk at Highway 3. Connectivity of active transportation routes is a key part of the Active Transportation Plan. The goal is to modernize accessibility for current and future citizens and visitors and enhance connectivity between residential neighbourhoods like the Annex and primary destinations.

Along 11^th Street the sidewalk is proposed along the south edge of the road right-of-way. 11^th Street is a main route to the Annex Park. The goal with providing a sidewalk along the south edge of the road right-of-way is to eventually build a pedestrian corridor along the length of 11^th Street to connect to Annex Park.

The proposed cross section includes grassed boulevards between the roadway and the sidewalk. This buffer will support pedestrian comfort, snow storage for winter, and water absorption.

Learn more about the proposed street cross-sections.

Lead image: Road work in Fernie in 2019. e-KNOW file photo

City of Fernie

Article Share