The first phase of the Prest Road rebuild project green-lighted a couple of years ago by city council is moving ahead slowly.
Road widening and construction of two roundabouts originally thought to be completed sometime in 2015 may actually take a little longer, according to city staff.
City reps are currently still in land purchase negotiations and working on utility pole relocation with BC Hydro and Telus officials.
They're still somewhat hopeful to see some construction before the year is out, but it looks a little unlikely given the work window restrictions in place to protect local creeks that will impact the drainage-related work.
The road work in general is geared to addressing north/south traffic congestion going to and from Promontory heights, and roundabouts will go in at Bailey Road and Prairie Central. Another will go in at McGuire eventually.
This phase of the road project will cost an estimated $6 million. The first phases will see widening and bike lanes added in the stretch of Prest from Bailey Road to the Trans Canada Highway, along with single-lane two roundabouts.
It is stage one of much larger project of about $30 million of improvements to Prest, looking forward to improvements by 2021, 2031 and 2051, and funding will come out of development cost charges.
A combined request for expressions of interest (RFEI) from qualified bidders went out for the first phase and other projects, and is set to close is April 8.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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