Province says HWY 29 overlay was “deficient”

After the Town asked what the plan was and complained the work wasn’t up to snuff, the province agreed. 

The provincial government says they are aware of the deficiencies in the light overlay work that was done on Highway 29 west and east near the Town of St. Paul in late 2023. 

The Town sent a letter to Ministry of Transportation of their plan, since according to Mayor Maureen Miller, neither they or the County was aware of their intentions to do this work. 

In fact, they were hoping contractors wouldn’t move within town, because a larger scale of work on Main Street (Highway 29) is needed with curbs and gutters. 

“We didn’t know they were coming, so that was an unusual situation,” Miller told Lakeland Connect. 

“We then expressed in that same letter, thank you for coming to town, but there are deficiencies here that are visible by the common driver, a passenger could even notice the deficiencies on that section of the highway that was just lightly laid over. So the government in this letter responded, yes, we’re aware of your project on 29, Main Street, and we are aware of the deficiencies.” 

Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen. Image: United Conservative Party.

A reply was sent to the Town and was included in last Monday’s town council package. It was dated on December 14, 2023.

The letter describes this work as one of a series of “thin lift overlay” projects that were taking place in the 2023 construction season, and upcoming in 2024. It isn’t the traditional full depth pavement overlay, but is hoped to improve the roughness and driver comfort.

“As with all construction projects, the contractor must meet acceptance criteria. When conducting the final inspection on this project, the department noted deficiencies,” the letter said by Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said.  

“Some deficiency repairs have already been undertaken to ensure public safety, and the line painting has begun and is expected to be completed by mid-November. The remaining deficiencies will be completed next construction season when weather is more conducive to completing the tasks sufficiently.” 

Work for Main Street is in the plans, but when it will happen is still up in the air.