Sylvan Lake’s infamous Lakeshore Drive is set to be completed this summer. The redevelopment of Lakeshore, which took place over six phases, is scheduled for completion in October of 2016.
Two areas of Lakeshore are set to undergo construction beginning May 2. The stretch of road from Centennial Street up past Marina Bay to Wildrose Drive, as well as the area from the end of LakeshoreDrive to the traffic circle are both scheduled for underground water main upgrades in the month of May, with concrete electrical and landscape work beginning at the end of July.
A break in construction is anticipated from the end of July until after the September long weekend and will continue until the project is completed in October. The final portion of the project to be completed in September and October will be the intersection of Centennial Street and Lakeshore Drive.
Project Manager for the Town of Sylvan Lake, Dave Kelham stated the break in construction is do to accommodate peak visitor times in the season and the businesses they will be visiting.
The Town of Sylvan Lake is currently set to host an open house to consult with business owners and residents in the area in regards to phases five and six of the Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan onWednesday, April 13 from 6-9 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
“It will give people an understanding of what’s going on and give them a better understanding of the schedule and what’s going on,” said Kelham on the open house.
Council initiated the Lakeshore Drive Redevelopment Master Plan as a legacy project in 2008 with initial construction having begun in 2009 with the end goal of the project being to support the enhancement of a vibrant, diverse, attractive and well-planned environment for residents and visitors.
Vicki Kurz, economic development officer for the Town of Sylvan Lake, said she believes the end result will have a positive impact on businesses in the areas once Lakeshore Drive is completed.
“I think this is really a prime opportunity to finish the entire stretch of Lakeshore Drive so that we no longer have any inadequacies between different areas of Lakeshore Drive. It needs to be consistent,” said Kurz. “It will certainly finish the waterfront construction process and I really think it will help to attract investments.”
She added the completion of Lakeshore Drive is critical to tourism and downtown. In addition to street beautification through new pavement and sidewalks, the Lakeshore Drive RedevelopmentPlan also includes a number of public art pieces set to be unveiled this year.
Intermittent road closures are expected throughout the summer with the Town asking business owners in the areas set for construction to please attend the upcoming open house to ensure adequate communication.
In addition the Town has also extended invites via their business owner email database, with Kurz adding if business owners have not yet received the email to please email her directly atvkurz@sylvanlake.ca.