Improving the streets and sidewalks through the 2025 Street Improvement Program

Roadwork season has arrived in Whitecourt, and residents can expect
various projects to take place over the summer months. Each year, the
Street Improvement Program narrows down areas that need attention
throughout the municipality, selecting top priorities for crews to focus on.
There are two schedules: Schedule A (Overlay Work) and Schedule B
(Concrete Work). Tenders opened at the end of April, with companies
submitting tenders for the work until May 21. During the May 26 Whitecourt
Town Council Meeting, elected officials decided on who would get the
contract and saw the breakdown of where work would take place this
season.
Four bids were received: PME for $1,120,335.00, Park Aid for
$1,246,438.30, Knelsen Sand & Gravel for $1,074,132.41 and E-
Construction for $907,736.13. Based on the fact that E-Construction has
completed work in the Street Improvement Program before and that its bid
was the lowest, the administration recommended them for the job. Council
agreed.
The budget for the 2025 Street Improvement Program is $1,181,059.
Accepting the tender from E-Construction left the Town with just shy of
$275,000 remaining. As such, the Council voted unanimously to authorize
additional work from the program, providing it remained within the
constraints of the leftover funds.
The overlay work consists of six locations and a total of 9,543 sq metres of
pavement rehabilitation. The most significant section of the six is on Dahl
Drive, from 52 Avenue to 55 Avenue (in front of No Frills), totalling 4,220
square metres. The nearby two-way intersection on 52 Avenue, beside Tim
Hortons heading towards Walmart, will also receive attention. The last
valley spot in the overlay program is the intersection of 49 Avenue and 47
Street.

Hilltop locations for overlay work include the stretch of Sunset Boulevard
between Feero Drive and Baxter Crescent, including the intersections, and
the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and 42 Avenue (near Hilltop High
School). The last overlay spot uptown is on Whitecourt Avenue and
McLeod Drive. Schedule A also includes locations in the community where
road repairs are needed because of previous water main breaks or repairs
to the underground infrastructure, resulting in an unpaved roadway.
Concrete work includes repairing various deteriorating concrete
infrastructure, improving drainage, and various roadway enhancements.
Changing existing curbs, gutters, swales, and sidewalks is how crews will
help contain water more effectively, fixing spots where water tends to linger.
Crews will also repair cracked and/or failing sidewalks to improve safety
and usage for residents.
The concrete portion of the 2025 Street Improvement Program includes the
Driveway Enhancement Program, which swaps straight-face sidewalks with
roll-face sidewalks at driveway entrances. Rather than dealing with a jarring
bump, residents swapped to a roll-face sidewalk at the end of their
driveway, making a smoother entrance or exit. There are twelve locations,
ten downtown and two uptown, outlined as needing a roll-face sidewalk
swap.
The second of four phases of sidewalk rehabilitation on 55 Avenue will also
take place, which is the most significant part of this year’s planned concrete
work at 280 metres. Other locations for concrete work include Sunset
Boulevard at Feero Drive and Baxter Crescent, coinciding with the overlay
work also happening, and Whitecourt Avenue and McLeod Drive.
Drew Hadfield, Director of Infrastructure for the Town of Whitecourt,
explained that his department follows a guideline established in 2014 to
help steer pavement management. He said they also hit the pavement to
source out problem spots.
“We use that (guideline) as a starting point, but we also do a lot of touring
around the community and looking at issues that have developed over the
winter and need addressing. In this plan, we have several places that have

problems that have been developing over the past year, including Dahl
Drive in front of No Frills. The other areas are areas that we have been
working on and looking at in the past,” he said.
As for the remaining dollars, Hatfield said it allows for more to be done.
“We have money left over from our budgeted amount for all the projects
compared to the tender amount. Part of the recommendation looks at
opportunities to spend some of that to further enhance the community and
replace either concrete or sidewalks, pathways or whatever we need to do
in the community,” he explained.
Residents with questions about the 2025 Street Improvement Program are
encouraged to call the Town Office. Signage will be visible in affected areas
in advance of and during the construction period. Residents can report
concerns with roads or sidewalks at any time by calling the Town Office.