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Melfort’s ‘essential’ sidewalks to receive makeover

Jun 20, 2018 | 5:00 PM

A major undertaking by the City of Melfort to replace some the city’s oldest and most well-used sidewalks is set to start Thursday morning.

The City has committed $650,000 for its sidewalk replacement program, and Public Works Director Gerald Gilmore said the work is long overdue.

“We’ve got 57 kilometres of sidewalk in Melfort, and our essential sidewalk list, the ones that residents would use as primary sidewalks, were in drastic shape, terrible shape,” he said.

Gilmore said the first phase of the project could take over a month to complete. The work will include five blocks of Main St. from Burns Ave. up to McDonald Ave. Gilmore said they also have plans to repair three blocks of Stovel Ave. near the Wellness Centrel this summer, along with a couple blocks of Sask. Dr.

“The money goes quick enough, so each year we are going to address about a kilometre or a kilometre-and-a-half of sidewalk. Pretty much they are all replacement,” he said.

Gilmore said the sidewalk infrastructure in the city has been neglected over the years, and most of the sidewalks are 40 to 50 years old. A Moose Jaw company, Northstar Concrete, has been contracted to do the work.

Businesses may experience some disruption during the work, Gilmore noted, but the end result will be worth the minor headaches.

“There’s always business disruption, but I can assure you all the residents of Melfort are happy to see some new sidewalks,” Gilmore said.

 

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca 

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell