NORTH BATTLEFORD - The City of North Battleford plans to make a number of upgrades to the Parsons Industrial Park area to improve road conditions and drainage as part of its Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) work.
This year, the city will undertake gravel work on Marquis Avenue and Holstein Street because the roads are in very poor condition. The gravel will improve the surface so the roads can better withstand the harsh winter.
"The pavement on Marquis Avenue and Holstein Street has completely failed. The plan is to pulverize the road, add gravel and grade it to a gravel road," City Director of Engineering, Planning, Asset Management & Infrastructure James Johansen said in his report at this week's special council meeting.
As well, on Thatcher Avenue the city will do road repairs and patches - between Aberdeen Street and Hereford Street - in 2024.
"Thatcher Avenue between Aberdeen Street and Hereford Street has major road failures that require repair," Johansen said.
He added that "currently Thatcher Avenue is in poor condition and requires the repair work to improve safety in 2024."
City council approved awarding the contract for the work for these two projects to G & C Asphalt at a proposed cost of $220,613. G & C Asphalt was the only bidder for the contract. The city also included a contingency cost for $50,000 if needed.
Coun. Kelli Hawtin was concerned about turning Marquis Avenue and Holstein Street to gravel roads, and asked if there is any other option for this year.
But City Manager Randy Patrick said, no, there wasn't.
"Right now, that road is impassable on the one side. I drove it about two weeks ago, and you're just falling through holes. So we have to fix that, so you can get through properly," he said.
For Thatcher Avenue, the road has been impacted by drainage problems, so next the city wants to fix and grade the ditches to improve drainage. Then, next year the city can have an overlay pavement done to Thatcher Avenue when the ditch work is finished.
Administration was also planning to meet with property owners from Parsons on Aug. 13 to discuss the draft drainage study report, and to outline these Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) projects in further detail as they pertain to those properties, and to answer any questions the property owners may have, the city confirmed.
The draft drainage report is on the City’s .
The city noted the 2024 UPAR work for Marquis and Thatcher Avenues, and Holstein Street will be discussed during the Parson Industrial Park Drainage Study consultations and publicly advertised prior to commencing work
Looking ahead to 2025, for Marquis Avenue and Holstein Street, Johansen said the city will still need to determine if there is a suitable road structure to pave in the future, but this work is not currently budgeted for. Similar to Thatcher Avenue, any possible paving in the future for Marquis Avenue and Holstein Street can't be completed until the ditches are repaired.
