Major construction impacting traffic on McCarthy Boulevard starts next week

McCarthy Boulevard is getting a lot of attention as crews prepare for work that will keep a major sewer line as well as bridges in use for years longer.

The City of Regina says the project starts next week and a portion of it will continue into next year.

The stretch that will be under construction is between Dewdney Avenue and Fourth Avenue. Drivers will notice detours and new, temporary traffic controls as that stretch closes to traffic starting Monday.

The project will cost $7.9 million with the sewer line and bridges being addressed this year, with roadwork to be done in 2022.

“Three major projects needed to be completed on McCarthy Boulevard and due to the size and complexity of each, doing them separately would have stretched the impacts to residents over several years,” Kim Onrait, the city’s executive director of citizen services, said in a news release.

“By combining these significant and complex projects, the City realizes substantial cost benefits and efficiencies, and reduces the overall duration to two construction seasons.”

A major sewer main below McCarthy provides wastewater services to about 60 per cent of Regina residents. It will be relined to extend its life by 50 years. The city says relining costs one-third what it would to replace the pipe.

While that work is being done, a temporary wastewater bypass will be installed. This means generators will need to run, but the contractor is to mitigate the noise around them.

While that is happening, the bridges will also get attention. They require work to the concrete decks in order to extend their life. The sidewalks will also be widened so the path can be used by multiple users. It’s been more than 20 years since they’ve been improved.

That stretch of road will be closed to traffic starting April 26 until the end of June. There will be detours along Fourth and Dewdney avenues to accommodate drivers. Temporary traffic controls are being put in at Dewdney Avenue and Dorothy Street as well as at McCarthy Boulevard and Fourth Avenue.

From July through October, traffic on McCarthy in that section will be restricted.

The paths under the McCarthy bridges will remain open during construction.