Detour and road closure signs on Prince Street SE. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Gates Guarin

closed for the summer

Carry Drive, Hill Road closures highlight major construction season

Jun 30, 2022 | 4:18 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The familiar sights and sounds of summer are now upon us, but these ones may not appeal to those on the road. Road construction is underway, with several intersections and roadways closed off for projects such as sewer and line maintenance, and road paving.

Parkview, Riverside and North Flats all have major city works ongoing. Two more substantial road closures are in store for Monday, July 4: Hill Road and Carry Drive. Patrick Bohan with the city says while he understands drivers’ frustration, these projects are necessary.

“It is a challenge for us as we try and ensure that all year round that the water flows and that the sanitary lines are clear and free. So it’s always a challenge,” Bohan says. “I know we take it a bit on the chin. But we are trying our best to reduce the negative impacts in the community.”

Bohan says at least six months to a year’s worth of planning goes in before projects hit the pavement, and he wants more input from the community as a part of that process.

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“One of the things we’ve committed to as part of our strategy going forward is additional and more fulsome community engagement. So we’ve done some of that, we could do more,” says Bohan.

Both Hill Road and Carry Drive will both be closed for the rest of the summer. While the closure of Hill Road is for general sewer and water infrastructure replacement, the work done on Carry Drive will be quite substantial. The entirety of the road will be repaired and replaced, with milling done section by section. This work will affect transit users through the area.

“It might look like it lasts because it’s happening all around the city, but in your particular area or on that particular bus route, it’s only happening temporarily.” _{-Gordon Dykstra, operation supervisor, Medicine Hat Transit}

With one route affected by the Carry Drive closure, Medicine Hat Transit is asking users to pay attention to signage and plan ahead if such disruptions occur.

“As long as you can roll with going down a couple of strange roads, and if you’re standing at a bus stop, be alert for what we’re trying to communicate to you, you should be fine. We’re doing our best to maintain regular service,” says Gordon Dykstra, operation supervisor for Medicine Hat Transit.

Dykstra is also putting drivers and transit users at ease by reminding them road work will eventually be completed.

“It might look like it lasts because it’s happening all around the city, but in your particular area or on that particular bus route, it’s only happening temporarily,” Dykstra says.

As summer rolls on and more and more city projects pop up, Bohan is urging drivers to exercise caution, especially when dealing with road workers.

“Exercise restraint and take the safety of the worker as the most important thing when you’re passing workers.” says Bohan.

Bohan adds anyone who is looking for more information to visit the city’s website.

“We’ve got a number of projects that are going to take place this year. We also have a list of road closures as well, so we’ve got two separate maps that are in play. We try to keep them updated as often as possible.”