Construction season wraps up in Regina

Construction crews in Regina are beginning to store the equipment for the season.

In 2022, $97.5 million went into Regina streets as crews repaired some aging roads and fixed drainage systems.

Kim Onrait, the city’s executive director of citizen services, was happy to see the crews finish their projects.

“I would say just from the response in the community, construction season this year went better than it did in the previous years,” said Onrait.

More than 10 kilometres of roads were fixed or repaved this season, and eight kilometres of residential sidewalks were done.

Other big projects like the Winnipeg Street overpass and the North Central Drainage Project are 95 per cent complete with minimal requirements for next season.

Major investments of the season included $16 million into improving residential roads, $13.7 million into improving the condition of major roadways, and $40.7 million into wastewater and water drainage systems.

Onrait said there was a priority to get through as many projects as possible while also making sure not to disrupt people’s day-to-day activities.

“Trying to keep the distributional projects a little bit more broadly planned has definitely helped over the past few years,” said Onrait.

Onrait pointed to the sewer relining on Arcola Avenue East to demonstrate minimal disruption to commuters.

Supplier shortages and costs associated with inflation were two glaring reasons for project deferrals; those will be coming in 2023. The Northeast Drainage Project will be delayed until the 2023 construction season.