M.D. road construction could be lessened in 2019; dust control program coming soon

The M.D. of Bonnyville will not be doing as many road construction projects in 2019 to allow the new staff more time to understand the M.D., says Reeve Greg Sawchuk.

“There’s going to be some done but because of the turnover in personnel, we had to back off a little bit to allow the new folks to get in place and get to know the M.D and to start putting their stamp on how things are done. You will see considerable changes on how road construction is done,” said Reeve Greg Sawchuk on The Morning After.

The new Director of Infrastructure, Abid Malik, has been at the position for almost a month now.

A full 2019 roads construction list should be coming within the next few weeks.

In the interim budget, the M.D. had set $13-million aside for the following road projects.

• -Wolf Lake Road
• -Range Road 485 from Township Road 624 to Twp. Rd. 630
• -Township Road 640 from Range Road 471 to Range Road 473
• -Township Road 622 from Range Road 435 to Range Road 440
• -$1 million for the realignment of Range Road 415-415a, north of Township Road 615
• -$700,000 for Township Road 630 from the City of Cold Lake to Range Road 415
• -Reconstruction of the Lessard Bridge

M.D. council approves two road construction contracts

Council approved the Wolf Lake Road contract to E Construction for $6.5 million using $1.5 from surplus road improvements at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The project will include 9.6 kilometres of hot mix paving along Range Road 475 from Township Road 642 to Township Road 650, and Township Road 642 from Range 473 to Range Road 475.

“Wolf Lake Road is a heavily traveled road by industry and it’s the road into the campground as well. It was in dire need of work and so that’s going to be finished off this year,” said Sawchuk.

Council also approved the contract for 3.5 kilometres of construction on Township Road 630 from Cold Lake city limit to Range Road 415A to Knelsen Sand and Gravel for $580,000.

Dust

It’s not time for dust control yet, but the M.D. of Bonnyville is finalizing a dust control program in the coming weeks.

The M.D. is developing the map that will for their 2019 Dust Control Program using MG 30 on M.D. gravel roads, and there will still be time for residents to give input to their councillor if they want to be excluded from the program.

“The map in regards to dust control hasn’t been completely endorsed. Now is the time for residents to get out there and talk to their councillors whether they wanted it or not. Some had reservations having it done because of past experience and they brought those forward already,” said Reeve Greg Sawchuk.

“We’ve had a lot of changeover in terms of personnel and right now the new personnel are bringing forward a policy that’s going to be looked at by council. In the meantime, dust is out there so you have to look after it.

“There are two ways it’s been done in the past and one way is with a product called MG30 where it’s sprayed onto fresh gravel, worked in, and then it’s supposed to be rolled in as well. That keeps up from becoming a soupy mess, so application and how it’s done is very important. The other thing that’s taken place around people’s driveways is 100 metres of oiling as well. Those are a couple of things that are done as far as dust control and those will be starting here in the next two weeks.

The M.D. will wait until the frost comes out of the roads before they begin dust control, said Sawchuk.