(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

WEST VICTORIA STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Victoria Street West Improvement paving speeding up construction timeline, and drivers

Oct 4, 2019 | 4:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — Originally estimated to take 18 months to two years to complete, the Victoria Street West Improvement Project is taking a little more than half of the projected time to finish.

Capital Projects Manager Darren Crundwell says a large portion of the asphalt paving is done, and the rest will be laid out soon.

“If you look the months under construction — we started in April of this year, and really the road construction will likely be done the beginning of November and then we’ll have a couple of months next year,” he explains. “There is still work happening. Hydro work, pole removal, communication removal and that type of thing, but the actual real impactful work which is the roads, is probably about 10 to 12 months (worth).”

The next bout of asphalt work will be Friday, October 11 (weather permitting), for three lanes on Victoria Street West from Spoke N’ Motion and The Mustard Seed to Boomers Automotive. Delays are expected for this date.

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Paving will be finished before the snow flies this year, but Crundwell says that won’t be the end of the project just yet.

“We’ll have sidewalk and curb and gutter complete as well. But for next spring, there is all the power poles to come out, all the landscaping, and all of aesthetic things that people are really going to notice unfortunately won’t be completed until next spring.”

Extreme Excavating has been ahead of schedule with its city contract, but with vehicles speeding through the 30 km/h zone, it hasn’t been the safest work environment.

Earlier this week, Kamloops RCMP sent out a release reminding the public to obey the speed limit. Crundwell says the reminder came after some close calls involving workers on the project.

“We were hearing these concerns right from the workers, and we wanted to make sure we did everything we could,” he says. “Hence the call to the RCMP for some enforcement from them. Hopefully, that slows people down through there.”

RCMP Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says the number of potholes prior to asphalt paving appeared to force drivers to slow down, but with more paved sections, police have noticed drivers speeding up.

“To that end, our municipal traffic section will be going out there and monitoring the situation. They’re going to be using their radar and fining people who are speeding.”

Along with endangering the lives of workers on the site, Shelkie notes drivers who don’t slow down could be slapped with some hefty fines.

“Violation tickets for speeding in a construction zone can run anywhere from $198 to $398. As well, there are demerit points on your driver’s licence.”