Bachynski says downtown construction is ‘short-term pain for for some long-term gain’

Many drivers are noticing that traffic in downtown Regina have become worse lately due to construction on 11th Avenue.

The entire stretch of 11th is blocked off from Broad Street to Albert Street.

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Mayor Chad Bachynski said he understands the frustration during an appearance on the Greg Morgan Morning Show.

“That’s a big stretch of road to block off, and it is frustrating,” the mayor said.

“I completely acknowledge that. I drive down there as well. It’s tough getting around. But the reality is, we have to get it done.”

Bachynski said the entire stretch is closed because both city and SaskPower are doing work at the same time.

He said the city is fixing its underground infrastructure on 11th Avenue from Broad Street inwards to Lorne Street, while SaskPower crews working from Albert Street to around Lorne Street.

“This is probably the worst of it,” Bachynski said.

“There’s actually multiple crews trying to get all that done at the same time, so as that stage is over we will start to see it open up.”

Bachynski explained that the city will move to where SaskPower crews are working once they finish up their part of the construction.

“The first leg from Broad inwards through to around Lorne will be opened up,” he said.

SaskPower crews are working on 11th Aveue from Albert Street to around Lorne Street. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

Bachynski said city workers are replacing infrastructure buried under the road that dates back to 1913.

“When it’s all said and done, it’s going to be an absolutely transformative project,” he said.

“So short-term pain for for some long-term gain there.”

Asked if there is anything that can be done to improve rush-hour traffic during the construction, Bachynski said the city is working to communicate with commuters.

“Our folks in the city who are overseeing some of these things are communicating daily with the folks down there on anything we can do to change signage, to change how the lanes are working,” the mayor said.

“They’re constantly trying to pivot and see if we can do things.”

When asked about the construction on Dewdney, Bachynski said he hopes the work will be “substantially completed” before snow flies.

“There are some challenges with some of the older infrastructure and the deep, deep pipes that are down there that they’re working on, but they’re working hard to get it done,” he said.

“If you’re checking it out, you can actually start to see some of the paving and some of the paving stones that are getting put up there.”