Crews continue their work on the First Street Southwest Thursday afternoon. The city says the work is expected to be finished in the coming weeks - Photo by Colton McKee

By Charles Lefebvre

Construction update

First Street Project nearing completion

Oct 10, 2019 | 4:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The City of Medicine Hat says they’re in the home stretch for a project that has caused delays and detours for many motorists in the city.

The First Street Project, which sees crews replacing sanitary sewer lines and water mains in the area of First Street Southwest, has been underway for much of the summer. Last month, work shift down the street to the areas between First Avenue to approximately 100 metres west of Second Avenue.

Cody Hyam, project superintendent with the city’s environmental utilities division, says the work is currently in the final phase.

“Crews are completing the water main on the 200 block of First Street, as well as the 100 block of Second Avenue up to Second Street,” he said.

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Hyam says all of the sanitary sewer in the work zone has been installed, and deep utility work is expected to be completed next week.

Hyam adds the snow storm on the weekend of September 28 and 29 only delayed work by one day.

“Our crews come from Saskatoon, and they were unable to travel on the Monday, but they arrived promptly on the Tuesday following that snow storm and resumed work.”

Hyam says the city is not anticipating any further delays to the project, and work is expected to be finished later this fall.

“Fortunately, we’re in a phase where the weather hasn’t delayed us a whole lot,” he said. “Once we start moving forward and get into the asphalt and concrete, the weather plays more of a significant role. The contractors have been really great at mitigating the weather, and ensuring that we’re not being delayed.”

Hyam says if the weather changes, some of the minor work on the project, including soft landscaping and sod repair, may have to be pushed to the spring of 2020.