The City of Lloydminster will be working to improve ditches along 75 Ave. with the goal of improving drainage.
This particular project has been in the works for a number of years with it being complicated by the existence of a pipeline.
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“We’ve been working on having this work completed since 2018, its been a project that’s been ongoing ever since I started my tenure with the City of Lloydminster,” said James Rogers, senior manager, capital infrastructure. “This has been a conversation that has been ongoing since about 2018, 2019.
“To complete the work, we do have proximity agreements to work adjacent to their pipelines and their pipeline right-of-way.”
He says the requirements to work around and above the pipeline came from Husky Midstream Group Partnership (HMGP) and Cenovus Energy.
Don Stang, executive manager of operations also gave some background into the project.
“This has been a project that’s been ongoing for a long time and we’ve worked pretty hard with Cenovus (Energy) to come up with a plan that works for them and works for us,” he said clarifying over the last five years they’ve done a lot of investment with the stormwater infrastructure.
The budget was another point of contention when the project first started, restrictions caused a spike in the potential cost to get it off the ground.
“We started this project about $300,000 to $400,000 and the budget tripled in one year because of some of the conditions that were being put on by then husky,” said Dion Pollard, city manager. “James and his team have done a really good job of negotiating reasonable terms for excavating and got us to a number and you can see the budget versus the actual we’re in a pretty good spot.”
The work has been awarded to ABS Excavating Ltd. for $562,308.75.
“ABS excavating has completed significant earthworks grading in the city of Lloydminster and more importantly on behalf of the city of Lloydminster,” said Rogers.
The work will take place along 75 Ave. between Sobey’s rear alley access and north of 29 St. That ditch collects and conveys surface water that is generated from within the green space as well as the east side of 75 Ave.
Work will be taking place above a pipeline. Coun. Justin Vance asked how the city is protected if something is struck.
“We also do have crossing agreements to cross their pipelines and work on top of their pipelines,” said Rogers.
Infrastructure damage prevention specialists from Cenovus Energy and HMGP will be on site monitoring every day.
“Our legislative services and our legal council has definitely been involved in preparing this work,” said Rogers. “We have a great relationship with the field representative from HMGP and you can see in the budget remaining we have come up with a really effective scope of work and a methodology to complete the work so everyone can go home safely.”
Work will not close 75 Ave., according to the city.
“We have written it into our contract that it cannot be impacted other than rolling closures,” said Rogers. “We will not be impacting any traffic along 75 Ave. with lane closures or road restrictions.”
Work along that road previously closed portions of it for much of the summer.
“One of the challenges is we have two seasons in Canada in Lloydminster, construction and winter,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “There’s a short-term pain for a long-term gain. Each and every one of those projects will be an enhancement to our community.” Work is expected to begin this month and be completed no later than December 2025
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