Construction at two key intersections of 32nd Street will take place this summer.
After several years in the planning, the City of Red Deer will make upgrades to Spruce Drive and 40th Avenue intersections.
Earlier this year, council rejected a plan to build roundabouts, a modernized form of a traffic circle, and instead went with earlier plans to add more turning lanes.
The budgeted $9.2 million improvements will see right-turn lanes built at 32nd Street and Spruce Drive westbound.
Right-turn lanes will be built at 40th Avenue — for eastbound 32nd Street traffic heading onto southbound 40th Avenue, as well as for drivers on 40th Avenue who are turning onto westbound 32nd Street.
Left-turn bays would be extended — for northbound 40th Avenue traffic as they turn left onto 32nd Street, and for westbound 32nd Street to southbound 40th Avenue.
Transportation engineer Michael Williston said it’s hoped that the design will wrap up in the next week, with the project to be tendered out sometime in June.
Construction could begin in July.
“There will likely be detours as part of this work,” said Williston on Wednesday.
“We’re already starting to talk internally about options we might have. Ultimately, we’ll have to work with the contractor.”
Williston anticipates some work might have to be done outside peak times and most of the work will be done by this fall.
“It will make a big difference because the road conditions are poor,” he said. “There will be a fresh driving surface through that area. People should notice little quicker times getting through those intersections.”
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com