2020 Construction Season Wraps Up

The City of Regina’s 2020 construction season is coming to an end with $79.5 million invested in infrastructure projects to provide long term benefits to the community, improve drainage, and extend the lifecycle for our roadways. The main areas of investment include:

• $10.3 million for the Residential Road Renewal Program (RRRP) to improve residential roads
• $13.9 million for Street Infrastructure Renewal Program (SIRP) to improve the condition of existing major roadways
• $51.5 million for Water, Wastewater and Drainage programs to ensure continued reliable service of our water systems

“This year’s construction program unexpectedly took on a higher degree of importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Michael Fougere. “Continuing to deliver on our infrastructure commitments ensured steady employment and investment into the local economy at a time when it is seriously needed.”

Many projects were completed or will be completed in 2020, including:

• Two-year project for expressway lighting along Ring Road between Albert Street and Assiniboine Avenue East 
• Park Street Rehabilitation & Bike Lane Project to support the City’s active transportation network
• Pathway installation at Courtney Street and Prince of Wales Drive
• Two-year year project on the Victoria Avenue Infrastructure Improvement & Beautification between Albert Street and Broad Street
• Creeks Lift Station and off-line storage tank 
• Playground replacement at Hastings Park and Lakeview Park, and a new playground at Ken Jenkins Park
• Resurfaced tennis courts at South Leisure Centre/Realtors Park 
• Dewdney Ave Twinning Project
• Sewer main relining such as interconnector trunks under Lewvan Drive
• Culvert Relining

This year’s construction season was delayed by roughly six weeks while pandemic impacts were identified and appropriate controls were implemented. Strong internal and external collaboration along with the implementation of new approaches to contracts and work schedules enabled the majority of planned projects to be completed.

“The success of the 2020 construction program was dependent on interdepartmental and external stakeholder communication, collaboration, along with innovative thinking to achieve our goals,” said Kim Onrait, Executive Director of Citizen Services. “This increased focus allowed us to identify and mitigate risks, balance citizen impacts, and improve coordination to deliver a successful, integrated program valued at $79.5 million.”

Two multi-year projects will continue as planned in 2021. The Dewdney Avenue Twinning will complete paving and close out work, and the North Central Drainage project, which achieved 15 per cent completion this year, will start up in spring 2021.

The City of Regina thanks residents for their understanding and patience. As the season winds down, please continue to slow down and be safe. Workers and their families are relying on you.

Backgrounder 2020 Construction Season

The City of Regina coordinates a variety of construction projects over the summer months including roadways, water, drainage, wastewater, facility and forestry projects throughout our community.

Despite a nearly six-week delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City had a successful 2020 construction season.

By the numbers, the City of Regina:

• Resurfaced 23.4 km of roadway and replaced 16.4 km of sidewalks
• Refreshed 12.5 km of gravel alleys and reconstructed 5.8 km of paved alleys
• Installed 4 km of multi-use pathways and bike lanes
• Relined 3.5 km of sewer mains and replaced 200 m of watermains
• Replaced 140 water service connections, 85 lead water service connections and 45 hydrants
• Inspected and cleaned 34.6 km of large and small diameter sewer mains
• Replaced 140 water service connections and 45 hydrants
• Dredged 2.5 km of creek and improved storm channels
• Installed 3,000 linear metres of expressway lighting
• Installed one traffic signal, one pedestrian corridor, as well as seven overhead mounted pedestrian crosswalks
• Upgraded traffic signals at eight intersections
• Planted approximately 400 shrubs and trees along Arcola Avenue

With shorter than usual timelines due to the pandemic, staff worked collaboratively internally and with construction partners to deliver an innovative and critical program.

Some of these innovations included:

• Contract incentives to encourage early completion:
  • Albert Street - Gordon Road to connectivity sidewalk
  • Albert Street - Hill Avenue to 23rd Avenue
  • Prince of Wales Drive - Arens Road to Quance Street
  • Sunset Drive - Montague Street to Rae Street
  • Dewdney Avenue Twinning from Pinkie Road to Courtney Street
• Weekend, night or variable hours of work:
  • Maintenance paving on Arcola Avenue East over the Pilot Butte Creek
• Advanced construction and maintenance projects to take advantage of the reduced congestion on our roads:
  • Downtown construction – Smith, Lorne and Hamilton streets, 12th Avenue and various alleys
• Collaborated to integrate complete street redesign supporting multi-modes of transportation into one construction project:
  • Park Street Rehabilitation & Bike Lane Project - Douglas Park Road to Broadway Avenue

From the 2020 planned construction season, $6.4 million of Residential Road Renewal Program projects and $14.2 million in utility work projects were deferred and will be considered during the next budget cycles.