The shovels are in the ground and the bulldozers are moving with the goal of completing the 32nd Street bridge in the spring of 2011.

“We’re on our way and I think everyone who’s involved with it is pretty excited. I know I am,” said Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine.

Grading to build the bridge’s approaches on the south side of the Sheep River is well underway, having begun earlier this month.

Work on the 32nd Street bridge is underway as crews have begun grading and site preparation. photo by Don Patterson

The federal and provincial governments stepped forward in September to provide $11 million each for the project. The Town will borrow $8 million to help cover its one-third share of the price tag.

The Town may have already found a way to shave some money off the final price tag. Town council approved a plan to use dirt and fill material for the bridge embankments from open areas near the site on the south side of the river.

Okotoks municipal engineer Marley Oness told town council last week the move to use local materials could cut $300,000 to $400,000 from the project’s budget.

Work began after the Town received final approval from higher levels of government to proceed with the work.

“We’re moving some dirt and all our applications are now in. All environmental issues with the federal government are now completed,” said McAlpine.

The work has to be completed by the end of March 2011, just a little more than 16 months from now. McAlpine said construction of the bridge and roadwork should be completed by fall 2010 and it should be open to traffic in about a year’s time.

Construction of the bridge over the Sheep River and CPR rail line will begin by the end of the month and are expected to be substantially completed by the end of August 2010.

McAlpine said it’s an aggressive timetable for what is, by total price tag, the largest construction project ever conducted by the Town.

The project has been fast tracked and in order to meet the short deadline, the Town has split the tendering process seeking submissions from contractors rather than putting the project out as one large contract.

The first tender, for rough grading, closed on Oct. 14 and the second tender for construction of bridge structures will close tomorrow (Nov. 19).

The tender for surface work, including paving, sidewalks and landscaping, will go out in February. The tender for grading on the north side of the river and the river diversion will go out in April.

dpatterson@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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