Business owners along the downtown’s Little Gaetz Ave. got their first look at construction that will take place this year in the city’s revitalization project for the area.
Four business owners came to the first of two pre-construction meetings to provide an update on the project. Tuesday’s meeting was for Phase 1, that encompasses businesses and residents between Ross and 48th Streets.
Most of the work for this part of the revitalization was finished last year and now the finishing touches will be most of the scope for this year. That will include completing the sidewalks and crosswalks as well as landscaping.
There was no detailed schedule to when the work would be completed but that section will see parts closed for a maximum of three weeks at a time.
The construction includes having to shut down a block at a time to build new crosswalks.
Each will only take about five days to build but need to be shut off to vehicle traffic to ensure the crosswalks last. City of Red Deer downtown coordinator Charity Dyke said pedestrians will still be able to use the area.
Dyke added the project allows the ability to offer more significant programming on the streets and sidewalks. She also ensured that the scope of work for phase one would be completed by the end of 2012.
The next meeting deals with phase two of the project which takes place tonight at Scott Block starting at 5 p.m. and deals with businesses and residents between 46th and 48th Streets and 51 to 52 Street. It will involve a bigger scope of work and possibly shut down those area for longer periods of time.
cpapke@www.reddeeradvocate.com