Photo: City of Vernon

It's been a busy construction season in Vernon.

A number of major infrastructure projects have been completed, including upgrades to underground utilities, roadways, parks, drainage, and active transportation routes. 

On Friday, work was completed on Pleasant Valley Road between 48th Avenue and BX Creek. The project included the construction of a new storm sewer main and outfall into BX Creek, road reconstruction, new curbs, gutters and a multi-use path, along with safety improvements at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and 48th Avenue.

“In the midst of global disruption and a lot of economic uncertainty caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city managed to keep on track and on pace with more than $18 million in infrastructure renewal and improvement projects," says Mayor Victor Cumming.

"Not only did this work revitalize critical infrastructure, but it also helped support our local economy, and added new and improved active transportation routes to support a more sustainable and healthy future for our community.”

Other major projects this year included: 

• 48th Avenue (between 29th Street and Highway 97): new drainage culvert and storm outfall, road improvements to address seasonal localized flooding, new multi-use pathway and curbing, and a new transit bus access to the Village Green Shopping Centre.
• 32nd Avenue (between 33rd and 35th streets): rehabilitation of water main, storm and sanitary sewer utilities, sidewalk replacement, road rehabilitation, and a new traffic signal at 32nd Ave. and 34th St.
• 29th Street and 30th Street (between 37th and 41st avenues): a new road through the former Civic Arena site, rehabilitation of sanitary, storm and road infrastructure, a new multi-use pathway, and a double roundabout – to be completed in spring 2021.
• 25th Avenue (between 28th Ave and Vernon water reclamation centre): installation of a new high-strength waste sanitary sewer main using directional drilling.
• 25th Avenue/Okanagan Landing Road (between Tronson Road and Vernon water reclamation centre): twinning of a sewer force main using directional drilling – to be completed in 2021.
• Polson Park: pedestrian and cyclist trail upgrade to multi-use pathway in the south end of the park.
• Okanagan Landing Road (between Lakeshore Road and Paddlewheel Park): multi-use pathway upgrades and installation of concrete barriers to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety.
• 15th Street/Middleton Way: installation of a multi-use pathway between Kosmina Road and Highway 6.
• Eastside Road, Tronson Road and Crosby Road: Rock slope stabilization work.

The city has a rolling four-year capital plan to address asset management and public infrastructure needs. Some of the work completed this year was part of a multi-year project strategy, including the rehabilitation of 48th Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road, and the creation of the new corridor between 29th and 30th Street.

Due to unseasonable cold weather this fall, paving on the 29th/30th Street corridor at 39th Avenue could not be completed this year. The construction zone will remain closed to traffic until paving can be completed in spring.

Despite pausing the 1.9% infrastructure levy for one year, the city still has more than $18 million worth of capital projects ready to go for 2021, Cumming adds.