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As the construction season draws to a close, the final touches are being put on several Municipal construction projects before winter settles in. During the past six months, the RMWB has worked on 58 projects in the region.
Winter weather in Northern Alberta brings challenging conditions like snow and freezing temperatures which means most outdoor construction work must stop until Spring 2025. Below are a few highlights of the work done this construction season:
Enhancing Municipal infrastructure
Reach 5 is nearing completion with finishes and landscaping left for the Spring of 2025. This was one of the most technically complex portions of our downtown flood mitigation. Taiganova North flood mitigation is also scheduled for completion in 2025 with interim clay berms remaining in place for protection until permanent berms are completed. To date, over one kilometre of berm has been built in Taiganova North to the 1//200 flood elevation. There is also a collection of smaller individual projects underway that are providing enhanced protection along Reach 3 and at several outfalls.
This construction season saw continued progress on the Silin Forest Road Deep Utilities Upgrades project. Started in Summer 2023, this multi-year project will improve and expand the capacity of underground water and wastewater infrastructure in Thickwood. The section of road and sidewalks in this area will also be upgraded to improve pedestrian and vehicle accessibility. The installation of a new trunk wastewater and stormwater collection system and upgrades to the water line to the Thickwood reservoir are significant milestones this year. This project is scheduled for completion in Fall 2025.
Downtown, the Saunderson Pressure Reducing Station construction began in February 2023 and work continued in 2024 with water line upgrades on Saunderson Avenue, Morrison Street and MacDonald Avenue, along with streetscape improvements along Biggs Avenue and Main Street. This project will improve water and wastewater infrastructure, flow and capacity for the Urban Service Area as well as Saprae Creek Estates, Gregoire Lake Estates and Anzac. The project is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2025.
We broke ground on the much-anticipated Northside Twin Arena. Water and sewer pipe installation was completed in Summer 2024 and construction will continue into the winter with piling and foundation works taking place into April 2025. The facility is planned to open for the 2026/2027 hockey season!
Parks and Recreational Spaces
Municipal infrastructure isn’t just large scale, multi-year projects, it’s also initiatives that have a personal connection to the community. This year, new memorial park signs were installed at the Lauren Stemmann Memorial Park in Dickinsfield and the Jeremy Snook Memorial Park in Wood Buffalo Estates. K.P Wong spray park was re-opened to the public and a new community entrance sign was installed in Draper.
Investing in rural communities
The Anzac Lagoon Expansion work continues, which included the installation of six new wastewater treatment cells, expanding one existing cell and connecting a newly installed forcemain to the treatment lagoon. This project will increase sewage storage capacities and enhance wastewater treatment in Anzac.
Under the Rural Water and Sewer Servicing program, 71 residential properties were connected as of October 15, 2024. This brings the number of connected residential properties up to 286.
Work continues on the Fort McKay Community Centre. The 12,000square foot building features an event stage to accommodate performances or presentations, multiple bleacher areas with approximately 300 seats, a commercial kitchen complete with a concession, plenty of storage space, and a new asphalt parking lot with over 100 parking stalls.
Upgrades to the Conklin water treatment plant started in Fall 2023 and continued in 2024. As part of the scope, a second treatment train is being constructed which will provide additional treatment redundancy and allow for continuous operation of the WTP during instances of equipment failure or when inclement weather prevents municipal staff from travelling Highway 881.
2024 road maintenance highlights
Over the course of the 2024 construction season, crews were able to complete the following works:
- 3,620 potholes filled
- 23 manholes repaired
- 420 tons of hot mix placed to repair roads
- 7,648 linear metres of crack sealing completed
- 12,300 square metres of minor asphalt repaired
- 1,338 linear metres of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and concrete swales replaced
- 25 catch basins repaired
- 64 trip hazards repaired
- 25 Sidewalk ramps replaced
There was a significant increase in repairs completed this construction season compared to 2023, thanks to favourable weather conditions and asphalt availability. To learn more about construction projects in your neighbourhood, visit rmwb.ca/capitalprojects Subscribe for construction updates at rmwb.ca/construction.
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