Ongoing road closures, safety concerns make for social media theme from weekend

A new excavation site has been started on Applewaite leading up to Crestview.
The work, part of the State to Local Emergency in December of 2022, 
is the longest running water infrastructure related project underway

The growing volume of open excavations and required road closures continues to make for some discussion amongst those who travel the city's streets and share notes on the city's social media streams. 

With some concerns being relayed over the response for emergency responders one noted through a local social media forum contribution and follow up commentary, that highlighted an incident on the city's east side.

The notes observe of an accident along Seal Cove Circle, a narrow city street that has become a major thoroughfare to the Salt Marsh, Seaplane Base, Fish Plant and Coast Guard station that owing to the closure of Seventh Avenue East. 

Seventh East (photo above), like many other locations remains closed, as the city awaits word on federal funding towards their infrastructure replacement program.

Included on the list of the roads that are closed  is Third Avenue East at McBride,  a closure which was originally noted as that of just a one week. That announcement more than a month ago on September 8th.

The road however remains closed to traffic, with few updates since to offer up any potential reopening date.

As we noted last week, Taylor Bachrach the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley raised the city's quest for funding with a parliamentary committee in Ottawa, with Sean Fraser the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities noting how he had recently spoken with Mayor Pond on the topic. 

The Minister however, did not provide for any timeline as to when the Federal funding decision may be made.

Tonight, City Council is about to move forward on its borrowing authorization, with two items of note on the Agenda tonight  for the City Council session at 7PM.

Hopefully the Mayor may share some notes tonight from his conversation with Minister; as well as to outline what plans the City may have should the anticipated funding be delayed for the short term. 

And whether they will be addressing some of the road closures that may be providing for the most concerns.

He may also want to expand on some thoughts he shared with the Chamber of Commerce breakfast of a September where he outlined that the City has already gone millions of dollars over its annual budget,  perhaps sharing some comments on the impact that has had on other civic operations.

As the twin bylaws are on the Agenda, they also provide an opportunity for anyone in the public gallery tonight to comment on the situation or direct questions and guidance for council and staff towards what residents may need to hear from the City.

If the public doesn't raise the topic for discussion tonight, the six council members could speak to the theme, hopefully to work towards providing some kind of blueprint towards what the plan moving forward may be.

You can review the list of work underway from our Major Projects archive page here.

More notes on tonight's Council Session can be explored through our Council Preview.