Major road work to turn Red Deer College’s entrance into two intersections should be done by mid-August.
College president Ron Woodward said he’s confident the project along 32nd Street will be finished several weeks ahead of the first day of classes on Sept. 8.
“I have absolute assurance it will be done by Aug. 15. If it’s not, you’ll be able to come and see me out there either with a shovel or a bat,” said Woodward, smiling.
The work includes eliminating the existing College Boulevard entrance, along with existing traffic signals. Construction crews are realigning the boulevard to match up with the 57th Avenue and 55th Avenue intersections, and traffic signals will be installed at both of these locations.
This will create one-way in and one-way out access, with signals.
Other work includes widening 32nd Street on the south side to allow two dedicated through lanes of traffic in both east and west directions and building dual left turns at the 57th Avenue one-way entrance into the college. Eastbound to northbound left-turn bays will be built at 57th Avenue and 55th Avenue. A right-turn bay will be built so drivers can enter the college at 57th Avenue.
Crews will also landscape along 32nd Street and where the existing College Boulevard is taken out.
Pedestrians will also have a widened sidewalk on the north side of 32nd Street, plus an asphalt path with lighting along the roads entering the college.
When the entire project is done, drivers will have three entrances, including the one on the western edge of the campus that’s being used now to get in and out. Besides the 32nd Street project, Woodward said a road access will be built on the east side along Taylor Drive.
But it will be dependent on when Qualico Developments starts its commercial and residential development southeast of the campus, west of Taylor.
“I expect the (new road) would happen in the next couple of years,” Woodward said.
Once Qualico builds its road off of Taylor Driver, the college can connect into it, he said.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com