Residents will see more upgrades to 40 Ave. following the April 7 council meeting.
The signalization of 40 Ave. was awarded to Can-Traffic Services Ltd. but other work was also discussed.
Read more: New traffic lights being added near Cenovus Energy Hub
Most notably, the widening of 40 Ave. to include turning lanes. The work is part of offsite infrastructure projects and will see widening on 40 Ave. at both the 36 St. and 41 St. intersections.
Work will include the implementation of dedicated left turn lanes for both north and southbound traffic along 40 Ave.
“Access is huge, we know people will be turning off and moving,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “The intention of the lights is to facilitate proper and safe travel for all parties.”
The dedicated turn lanes will also require vehicle queuing lengths. That means the two intersections, which are getting new signals, will feature a dedicated left lane and a through/right turn lane.
The contract award to Can-Traffic Services Ltd. is in the amount of $776,795 and includes a contingency of 15 per cent.
Coun. Jim Taylor asked what would constitute the need for that contingency.
“Pending steel prices for the actual mass, prices to get the controller, the cabinets,” said James Rogers senior manager, capital infrastructure. “We don’t know what we’re going to drill into to put the actual concrete piles into the ground.”
He says the contingency would cover any unforeseen construction costs.
Coun. Jason Whiting asked if the road would remain a high-load roadway.
“The traffic signals will have the swivel bases on them to give us that opportunity if we ever need to swing them out of the way,” said Rogers. “The high-load corridor actually continues along 12 street, out into the RM, at which point it comes past the upgrader up to Highway 16.”
Construction in the area will be broken into two parts. Part one will see construction on 36 St. and 40 Ave., while part two will be 41 St. and 40 Ave. Staggering construction will allow for traffic to continue flowing in the area.
“You can only have one part closed at a time to maintain that access and traffic flow into primarily Cenovus Energy Hub, but the adjacent neighbourhoods around there. We don’t want to close the whole corridor at one time,” said Rogers.
Rogers says once they begin rebuilding 40 Ave. there won’t be a way to maintain the north-south traffic.
“That is when we’ll divert traffic west on 36 St., north of 45 Ave. past the hospital where they can get back onto 44 St.,” he said.
Construction is set to begin this summer.
Read more: Understanding the Cenovus Energy Hub
