There will be construction at rail crossings in Okotoks next month, and the Town will have to foot half the bill.
CP Rail has identified necessary upgrade and maintenance work at four Okotoks rail crossings in town at Lineham Avenue, Veterans Way, Northridge Drive, and the pedestrian crossing on Riverside Drive.
The repairs will cost the Town $207,000, and town council approved a budget increase of $250,000 on April 9 to cover it, including approximately $25,000 for directional signage and public notification of road closures and an $18,000 contingency.
The cost is shared between CP Rail and the Town, depending on seniority of right-of-way. If the road was in place before the rail then CP picks up the tab, but if the road is built after the railway, the Town is on the hook for maintenance costs, he said.
“It’s part of CP Rail’s maintenance program,” said Okotoks engineering projects co-ordinator Dan Kutzner. “They have regular inspections and any maintenance that’s required as a result is done.”
In Okotoks, the Town will pay $97,000 for Lineham Avenue and $20,000 for the pedestrian crossing. Northridge Drive is split between the Town of Okotoks and CP Rail at $90,000 each, as the original road was in place before the rail line, but when the road was twinned through town the new portion became the Town’s responsibility.
Repairs include replacing the concrete and rubber crossing surfaces, rails, ties, and ballast, said Kutzner. All work is completed by CP Rail.
Coun. Matt Rockley, who sits on the finance and budget committee, said the committee supported the budget amendment for the expenditure.
“Really it’s one of those things that needs to be done,” said Rockley. “CP is moving forward with the work and ultimately these are the amounts that we’re responsible for paying, so there was support for this item.”
