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Southview project remains on track

While many basements and streets flooded Aug. 22, the town’s multi-million dollar Southview project was spared. Town of Westlock CAO Dean Krause says despite the flash flood, the impact to the $5.
Westlock’s $5.17 million Southview project wasn’t greatly impacted by last month’s flood and remains on schedule.
Westlock’s $5.17 million Southview project wasn’t greatly impacted by last month’s flood and remains on schedule.

While many basements and streets flooded Aug. 22, the town’s multi-million dollar Southview project was spared.

Town of Westlock CAO Dean Krause says despite the flash flood, the impact to the $5.17 million Southview infrastructure rehabilitation project was minimal and there won’t be a delay in completion. Over 100 millimetres of rain fell Aug. 22, flooding streets and causing millions of dollars of damage to homes and businesses.

“The contractor has informed us they still can make schedule,” Krause said.

“When they bid these jobs, they account for so many rain days anyway, so this isn’t putting them back.”

The project includes repairs to roads, sidewalks, sewers and waterlines in the Southview along 101 and 102 avenues and 97, 98 and 100 streets. Construction is expected to finish in October, save for an additional overlay in 2017.

Prior to the flood, crews were leveling off roads in preparation for pavement. Although there aren’t any expected delays, Krause said the contractor didn’t quite get away scot-free.

“The rain washed away some of their top gravel and finings, so they’ve had to go in and remove some wet stuff that was saturated and they’ve already put new fresh gravel in,” Krause explained.

The CAO said there’s no additional cost to the town, given the construction site is the contractor’s responsibility.

“It’s under their contract they’re responsible for all that. They carry their own insurance,” he said.

The brunt of the damage to the site was on 100th Street in front of the Provincial Building where water pooled to form an impromptu river that ran west into the Sobeys parking lot.

“That’s where they lost their gravel and silt,” he said.

Drainage was not an issue, Krause said, saying that sewer lines were functional. All in all, the Southview area was relatively unaffected, he noted. “I think the houses there fared really well.”

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