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| The lengthy road remediation work on 7th Avenue East seems to have no end in sight |
With the window for paving season about to slam shut with the approaching Fall Storm weather, some residents around the city might be wondering when the City's public works department might get to finishing some jobs around town.
The most prominent of the incomplete projects so far is the work on 7th Avenue East and Green, where the road has been torn up since Spring and the completion date still seems a bit far off.
The topic of the work on 7th Avenue East was last raised as a discussion theme in August by Councillor Barry Cunningham, who at the time was informed by the Mayor that it was believed that it would be completed by the end of September, a benchmark that clearly has been missed.
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| The intersection of Green and Seventh is still waiting for the paving crews |
Should Councillor Cunningham, or some other member wish to pick up the theme they may perhaps offer up a question or two for a recent project four blocks south and one that has left the gaping hole along 11th Avenue East.
The water line related work was reportedly completed on October 11th, but so far, there's no sign of any further work to back fill the hole and put down some kind of paving along the roadway.
The area residents no doubt hoping that the timeline for 7th Ave East won't be the guidepost towards completion.
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| Traffic barriers remain up along 11th Avenue east around some recent waterline work, with the backfill still to be delivered |
Those projects make for the two most obvious of areas where some attention is required, but wherever you live in the city, the condition of many of the city's surface streets can make for some lengthy discussion.
Among some of the more noticeable areas in need of some black top, the two main transit routes east of McBride on Fifth Avenue/Sixth Avenue and 11th Avenue East, with all three of the streets featuring some spots where paving took place over the summer, while others resemble a mogul run at a ski hill.
On the West side, Summit Avenue in both directions is another route with a rather unhealthy collection of potholes, just waiting to take out some tire rims, or worse.
The rather haphazard approach to the roads comes after what had been trumpeted as a million dollar paving plan for the year announced by the city back in April.
The to do list for the most part seemed to have been wrapped up by mid August and featured finishing off the road construction of much of the summer on McBride, as well as the paving of George Hills Way, the road to the City Yard and the Road leading from the Digby Island Ferry to the Airport.
Since they may have some time on their hands at tonight's council session, any interested city councillor's may want to ask for an update from City Manager Robert Long as we pass the sixth month mark and the paving outline, asking what else the City got for its million dollar plan?
For a look at what is up for discussion by Council tonight see our Preview page and Council Session Archive page.
A wider overview of City Council Discussion themes is available here.
For a look at some of the past infrastructure work of the year see our archive page.
To view the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
When the city lets these contracts go are there no completion dates included in contract along with a penalty clause. I think if a penalty clause is stipulated there also has to be a performance bonus. I am very sure the residents of the affected area would be happy to pay a bonus.
ReplyDeleteI have been told the contractor has had staffing problems. That should not be a City of Prince Rupert problem. If there was a completion date the city should be contacting the bonding company if the job was bonded. It should of been bonded. If the city was responsible for holding up the contractor which can happen the city should do the right thing admit it.
City needs to add teeth to their development permits (which I believe 7th falls under). Get a completion date and if not done by that time, fine the company. Same should go for building improvement and unsightly properties.
ReplyDeleteThe city sometimes doesn't act in the city's best interests. The mayor's project I think it is called the Crows Nest has a camp look that the city is stuck with forever. Look at similar facilities built in the lower mainland, Vancouver or Kelowna. The buildings have an architectural design that is along the lines of a condo development. Pleasing to the eye.
ReplyDeleteThe facility was not even required to install sidewalk along the frontage.
A sidewalk is a bit of a defense for pedestrians. Would you not want and feel more comfortable walking on a sidewalk. It should of been a condition of the building permit. Nah the city can build one with taxpayer monies when they finally spot the problem.
I don't understand how the administration goes after Ministry of Highways all the time but does not take any steps towards safety on their part.
While the Mayor and Council are advocates for the Crow's Nest facility and the city did provide the land for it, I believe the project was more of a provincial initiative towards the housing issues in Prince Rupert
ReplyDeleteNCR
While it was a provincial project council had the right to review plan and approve. Architectural drawings should of been provided. Building department has to review and make recommendations to council on changes required for that location. This would include access and egress which should of included sidewalk.
DeleteLook a the transition house next door which has a decent façade and sidewalk completed to property line. Just because it is the provincial government the city should not accept less then other cities expect and receive.
https://globalnews.ca/news/4617080/kelownas-newest-supportive-housing-complex-about-to-welcome-homeless-tenants/