By Charles Lefebvre

City reopens First Street Southwest after completing infrastructure work

Jun 14, 2018 | 4:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — After roughly six weeks of detours and headaches for drivers, First Street Southwest is now open again.

The city opened the road on Wednesday at noon. A section OF the road between First Street and First Avenue Southwest had been closed since early May to allow crews to replace natural gas mains.

“It took probably a week and a half longer than we anticipated,” said Chris Turner, engineering superintendent with the city’s gas utility department. “We ran into some unexpected construction delays and weather delays, just typical construction delays that took us a little longer than we thought we would need.”

While the replacement work on the street is finished, there is still paving work that needs to be done. Turner says the contractor for paving had another commitment this week, and will return to finish paving within one or two weeks.

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Turner added it was important for crews to restore access to the streets as quickly as possible.

“Our intent was always to make sure we can get that buttoned up as quickly as possible before we carried on with the rest of the project,” he said. “Typically, we’ll leave paving right until the end, but with this roadway, we wanted to make sure we got the paving done pretty much as soon as we were able to get out of the way and release the site to the pavers.”

Crews have now shifted operations to Second Avenue and Second Street Southwest for gas main replacement. Turner says they’re hoping to have the new mains installed by the middle of July.

Drivers are reminded to obey posted speed limits and detours while work is ongoing.