Construction crews are working to stay on schedule in finishing underground work on 100 Street, as rainy weather continues to hit North Battleford. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By Josh Ryan

work in progress

100 Street Rehabilitation providing for local construction amid pandemic/weather

Jul 13, 2020 | 5:45 PM

Pushback from business owners to going ahead with the 100 Street Rehabilitation Project this summer has continued with online chatter in the past few weeks. However, both the City of North Battleford and local construction companies are focused on the project moving forward amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as poor weather.

Mayor Ryan Bater said replacing the pipes between the 1200 and 1400 blocks comes down to three critical factors. The first, and most important, is the necessary replacement of infrastructure. Bater said the street beautification is a nice add on, but the true purpose of the project isn’t a choice.

“Those are cast iron pipes, way past their useful life that need to be replaced,” he said. “It’s not a want, it’s a need.”

The second factor deals with cost, which will come in much lower this, because of companies focused on keeping staff employed during the pandemic.

“The bids came in way under budget,” Bater said. “We save taxpayers a lot of money by doing it this year.”

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The third factor is an economic stimulus through hiring locally. Fred Mahon of Sanburn Construction, said getting a project of this size makes a difference after so much uncertainty in the spring.

“It’s definitely a bonus to have that kind of work right at home and in our own community,” he said.

Mahon expects the underground work on the 1200 block to take seven to 10 days before they move on to the next area. Like many other companies in the construction business, he said they’ve been fortunate to remain an essential service during the pandemic, keeping construction work for other areas on schedule.

“A lot of these projects went forward without a hitch because of that,” he said.

Mahon said he empathizes with business owners who are most affected by the construction and hopes to finish quickly.

It’s gonna be [hard] for a few months, but hopefully they’ll look back at it and realize it wasn’t that bad.”

G & C Asphalt, which will handle the roadwork, is also heavily local and appreciative of having the project this season.

“Almost all of our employees are from North Battleford or the surrounding area,” Division Manager Curtis Isner said. “We’re very pleased to have them working and keeping busy.”

Isner said they are following the schedule of the underground work, meaning they have to wait until that task is finished. However, the weather could alter the timeline. North Battleford experienced record numbers of precipitation last week, the surpassing the previous in 1965, with a few smaller showers still coming.

“The significant rainfall last week has impacted a few things,” Isner said. “[But] it’s good know that we have this work ahead.”

And in the event Mother Nature begins providing peak summer conditions for the rest of the month, Isner said they will get a jump on the work.

“If the first section is ready prior to that, we’ll probably try to get in as soon as they’re finished on the first block.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports