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Roundabout proposed for Revelstoke’s Fourth/Townley/Victoria intersection

Roundabout has estimated cost of almost $6 million, including replacing sewer and water lines
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A conceptual drawing of the proposed roundabout for the Fourth/Victoria/Townley intersection. — Image credit: McElhanney Consulting Services

The City of Revelstoke is planning to build a roundabout at the troublesome Fourth/Victoria/Townley intersection, but first it is seeking close to $6 million in funding to pay for it.

A report by Mike Thomas, the city’s director of engineering, recommends the city apply for a grant from the Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) to pay for the estimated $5,853,000 project.

“The SPF program provides grant funding up to 100 per cent of eligible costs for local government infrastructure projects that are large in scale, regional in impact, or innovative and support the Gas Tax Fund national objective of productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong cities and communities,” states the report. “If the funding application is successful, the project could receive up to 100 per cent funding and traffic improvements to the area and upgrades to infrastructure could begin in the 2018 construction season.”

The intersection has long been identified as one of the most troublesome in the city. “The area is an unusual and unexpected traffic control configuration and drivers who are unfamiliar with the intersection may do unpredictable things which increase the likelihood of collisions,” write Thomas. “The intersection is seeing increased traffic as the number of visitors to Revelstoke grows. The intersection is also on a main truck route and during highway closures sees increased traffic as vehicles are rerouted from the Trans-Canada using the eastern access.”

The roundabout would have entrances and exits to Victoria Road, Fourth Street East, and Townley Street. A conceptual drawing of the roundabout included in the report indicates that CP Rail has agreed to remove its section of track through the intersection, though the report also says the final design would be subject to “stakeholder engagement, city and CP Rail approvals.”

The project would also see the replacement of aging water and sewer infrastructure in that area; there has been several water main breaks in that corridor over the last few years.

The preliminary budget, created by McElhanney Consulting, says roadworks would cost $2,187,000, storm sewer $208,000, sanitary sewer $572,300, water lines $351,200, and lighting and landscaping would cost $432,000. Another $1.4 million is set aside in contingency costs, and $627,000 in engineering professional fees.

The estimates are based on the costs of the highway intersection project and adjusted to account for inflation.

Another $500,000 could be needed for land acquisition.

“This estimate is subject to completion of detailed design, stakeholder engagement, city and CP Rail approvals,” states the report.

Council is set to discuss the report on Tuesday, May 23.

Council was set to discuss the report on Tuesday, May 23, after press time. Visit RevelstokeReview.com or wait for next week’s paper for more on this story.