Under construction: City of Regina announces $112M in projects for 2021

On the same day crews were starting significant work on McCarthy Boulevard, the City of Regina announced its plans for the 2021 construction season.

During a media conference Monday at City Hall, officials revealed the city is to invest $112.6 million in transportation, water, wastewater and drainage projects this year.

“To invest over $100 million is not only essential to improving infrastructure throughout our community, it also creates jobs that contribute to our economic recovery as we look forward to coming out of this pandemic,” Mayor Sandra Masters said in a media release.

“This year’s construction season improves essential infrastructure while addressing city priorities.”

The city is to invest $55 million in water, wastewater and drainage projects, $22.8 million in residential road renewal, and $16.8 million in street infrastructure renewal on arterial roads, collectors and expressways.

Investments in four major infrastructure projects include: $28.8 million over two years in the rehabilitation of the Winnipeg Street overpass and modifications to the interchange; $15 million in Year 2 of a three-year project for drainage improvements in North Central; $7.9 million in sewer renewal, bridge rehabilitation and road renewal on McCarthy ; and, $940,000 into the rehabilitation of Albert Street between Victoria Avenue and Saskatchewan Drive.

During the media conference, Chris Warren — the city’s director of roadways and transportation — explained more about the project on Albert Street.

He didn’t have an exact date, but said the work will start “within the next couple of weeks” and last for three months.

Warren explained maintaining traffic flow on such a busy street is a high priority during this project.

“In an effort to keep traffic moving and reduce the impact to the public, we’re looking to keep traffic moving in both directions for the majority of that project. What you’ll likely see is a closure on one side of the road with two-way traffic happening on the other side,” he explained.

“We’ll do everything we can to continue to move traffic along.”

When the work has wrapped up on that stretch of Albert Street, residents can expect to see newly installed centre medians, repaired sidewalks and a freshly paved road surface. Multiple street lights will also be moved.

Construction has already started on the major project on McCarthy Boulevard.

Starting Monday, the road is closed to traffic between Dewdney Avenue and Fourth Avenue until at least the end of June.

The work combines three major projects over a planned span of two years: The sewer pipe below the street will be relined and the bridges along that stretch will be repaired. In 2022, major road repairs will begin along the same stretch.

Traffic detours are set up along Dewdney Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

People who live along that stretch of road could notice extra noise or a chemical smell, as the city has a sewage bypass system set up while it upgrades the pipe.

Among the residential roads to be upgraded in 2021 are Academy Park Road, Procter Place, Chisholm Road, Fourth Avenue North between Garnet Street and Retallack Street, and Magee Crescent.

The projects on Procter and Chisholm are to last two years.

The city also is to add 4.5 kilometres of cycling paths, including along Pasqua Street between Parliament Avenue and Hill Avenue. As well, two kilometres of multi-use pathway are to be improved.

Most of the city’s projects are to begin in early May.