A $19 million reconstruction of the Fraser Highway One-Way through Langley City will dig up the entire road between 204 and 206 Streets to replace aging sewer and water lines, run electricity underground to eliminate overhead power lines, plant nearly 90 new street trees and bring in parallel parking along the south side of the road, which currently has angled parking on both sides.
At the Monday, July 22 meeting that approved a bid by B&B Heavy Civil Construction Ltd. to carry out the work, Mayor Nathan Pachal called it "one of the most significant projects since I’ve ever been elected."
Estimated budget is $18.6 million, which includes a $1.7 million contingency.
Work will get underway at the end of August or early September, will take place in two phases, and require about to 300 days to complete, David Pollock, City director of engineering, parks and environment told council before the vote.
“Literally the entire roadway has to get excavated,” including an existing concrete slab that formed the old roadway, Pollock advised.
Work will also include curbs and sidewalks, traffic signals, street lighting as well as street furniture, benches and tables.
Efforts will be made to maintain pedestrian traffic by keeping sidewalks open and access to buildings, but "I cannot say that there will be not be disruption given the magnitude of this project," Pollock cautioned.
Work will be suspended for one month during the busy Christmas shopping season.
A joint report to council by project manager Goran Corda and Graham Flack, City deputy director of corporate services, said terms of the contract will require "maintaining of access to all businesses throughout the construction as well as the full shut down of the project throughout December."
Councillor Delaney Mack recused herself from the vote, declaring a “pecuniary and non-pecuniary bias” due to her business.
In online remarks in his blog, Mayor Pachal promised the City will form a business liaison committee with representatives from the Fraser Highway One-way businesses "to ensure good two-way communication."
He noted the road dates back to "when people still rode horses, and our community was called Langley Prairie."
Most of the trees along the one-way had to be removed a few years ago because some were creating tripping hazards by making the sidewalk heave upwards while others had been excessively trimmed to let power and telephone lines run over them.
READ ALSO: Update: Street trees on One-Way in Langley City to be replaced
Last year, Langley City council approved a $15-million borrowing proposal to fund SkyTrain-related land purchases and pay for upgrades to the One-way.
READ ALSO: Langley City council approves $15-M loan proposal
