Naramata Road Update

Weather permitting, the portion of Naramata Road currently affected by the water system upgrade project will be paved by the end of November, at which time the contractor will start water main installation on area side streets.

“The objective is to have 1.3 kilometres on Naramata Road paved on or before Nov. 30,” said City engineering supervisor Roy Christensen.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate and paving can’t be undertaken before Dec. 1 when the asphalt plant shuts down for the winter, project contractor Sunland Utilities must re-surface the road with “cold millings” – recycled asphalt. Their contract also requires them to ensure that the surface is maintained through the winter until it can be paved in early spring, said Christensen.

The project to install new domestic water mains and fire hydrants and renew existing irrigation services on Naramata Road from Reservoir Road to the north boundary of the City has been underway since early October. Every effort has been made to minimize traffic disruption while still allowing work on the project to proceed.

“There are flag people on the road full time and they are trying to enforce the maximum 15 minute delay and minimize disruption to traffic – particularly transit, school buses and emergency vehicles,” said Christensen.

Property owners north of Sutherland Road have also experienced periodic water service disruptions as bedrock blasting for the new main has caused breaks in the existing main. The contractor has usually been able to repair these breaks within one or two hours. While it is impossible to predict the extent of the bedrock in the area, the City expects ground conditions to be such that, during the remainder of the work, further disruption will be minimal.

“Once we get this section of Naramata Road paved, the contractor will be moving on to the side streets,” Christensen said. Construction on side streets will begin shortly with Maynard, Lindsey and Pearson roads and then moves to Todd and Three Mile roads, followed by Olhausen and Poplar Grove roads, Davenport Avenue, Chapman Road, Evans Avenue and Lochore Road. Work on these roads will continue through the winter. Work on the balance of the Naramata Road portion of the project will recommence in spring once asphalt is available.

Members of the public with any questions or concerns regarding this construction project should contact Rob Milanovich of Sunland Utilities at 492-5939 or 490-6396 or City engineering supervisor Roy Christensen at 490-2516.