Prince Albert city council has moved planned work on the Sixth Avenue East viaducts into 2027.
The motion, moved by Coun. Dawn Kilmer and seconded by Coun. Troy Parenteau, carried Monday. It says rehabilitation work on both the southbound and northbound viaducts will be tendered after the required money is approved through the 2027 budget process.
Construction is planned for 2027.
Public Works Director Jeff Da Silva said the city would not have enough time this year to prepare a tender, send it out and have the work completed in 2026.
“At this time of year, you wouldn’t be able to put something out, prepare the tender, get it out, and actually have that work done for 2026,” Da Silva told council.
The city had already approved $1 million in the 2026 budget for work on the southbound viaduct. That money will now be carried forward to 2027.
Any money left form the 2026 bridge inspection budget will also be moved into next year’s bridge budget.
Council also agreed to send an additional $920,000 request for the northbound viaduct to 2027 budget talks. The top asphalt surface and waterproofing membrane will be paid for through the 2027 Paving Program Budget. When Coun. Darren Solomon asked about that cost, Public works Director Jeff Da Silva said it would be apprximately $230,000 per side.
Coun. Daniel Brown asked what would happen if council cannot find enough money next year to repair both sides.
Da Silva said the city would have to work with whatever funding council approves. If there is not enough money for both sides, administration would bring back a recommendation to do the repair work on one side.
Coun. Bryce Laewetz asked whether the motion meant the work would go through the 2027 budget process first, then go to tender, and then come back to council after the tender closes.
Arjun Pillai/Daily Herald
Coun. Dawn Kilmer speaks during Monday’s Prince Albert City Council meeting. Kilmer moved the motion to carry Sixth Avenue East viaduct rehabilitation work into the 2027 budget process.
Kilmer said council had already discussed the item at an executive committee meeting. She said residents could look back at that meeting for more details.
Kilmer said her main concern was the time it would take to do both sides during Prince Albert’s short construction season.
“The issue that I have is the length of time next year to do both sides,” Kilmer said. “Our construction season is very limited.”
Kilmer said each side could take about 14 weeks, depending on weather and other conditions.
Solomon also raised concerns about traffic disruption. He said doing both sides would create traffic problems through much of the construction period.
“I did have some other concerns. I’m not going to restate all those, but for that reason, I can’t support this motion,” Solomon said.
Mayor Bill Powalinsky said the money not spent this year would be carried forward and added to the money considered next year.
“The money that we don’t spend this year, which basically is reserved, gets carried forward,” Powalinsky said.
The motion carried.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
