The city is alive this spring with crews digging, cutting, paving, and building as the City of Trail goes ahead with repairs and improvements.
And work is slated to go on well into summer.
The current list of projects, those underway, those completed, and those slated for beginning later into the summer includes: The River Wall restoration, ongoing sewer system improvements, broadband fibre optic installation, city hall signage upgrades, the Victoria Street Corridor gateway project, Gyro Park concession upgrade, Lower Sunningdale playground equipment upgrade, Parks and Rec master planning, and locker replacement at the Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
Total projected cost for these projects is over $2.5 million.
City crews and contractors are busy every spring but this year's work includes new projects not seen before.
“We do have several projects that are unique to 2013, such as the fibre optic installation and the Victoria Street Corridor,” said Andrea Jolly, Communications and Events Coordinator for the City of Trail.
“But I’m not certain if there is more work going on than other years.”
According to Public Works manager, Larry Abenante, there was a great deal of work that went on last year but much of it was behind the scenes.
“You’re probably looking at more visible projects, particularly downtown,” Abenante said. “Last year we had the work on the Aquatic Centre HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system, that was a horrendous job, but maybe people didn’t see it.”
Abenante explained that there were also large sewer upgrade projects last year in Sunningdale as well as other, less obvious, projects that maybe didn’t have the visual impact as some of the work this year but that the City Works budget is much the same.
“Looking at capital projects this year versus last year, basically the dollars are pretty well the same,” Abenante said. “Parks and Rec capital expenditures this year are probably at about 50 per cent of last year. The funds are just re-directed to other areas of responsibility.”
There is one area in city spending that has seen a significant increase over last year, according to Abenante.
“Land purchases are way up this year as opposed to last year, particularly around the airport,” he said. “Last year it was fairly minimal.”
So, as the summer heats up, citizens are requested to try to be patient and pay attention to flag persons on their way through town as the work will continue for some time.