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Lacombe’s Main Street construction entering final phases

Jul 7, 2018 | 10:50 AM

The final phases of construction on Main Street in Lacombe are set to begin next week.

City officials are advising downtown businesses and area residents that the final asphalt and permanent road markings should take about a week and a half to complete, starting Monday, July 9 and wrapping up Wednesday, July 18.

“The City’s goal is to limit disruptions in the downtown area to as short of a timeframe as we can while maintaining quality and safety requirements,” says Director of Planning and Operations Jordan Thompson in a press release.

Starting about mid-morning July 9, City officials say construction crews will be temporarily closing Main Street and 49C Avenue to motor vehicle traffic between 53 Street and Highway 2A, allowing multiple crews to have full access to the work zone at all times so they can work concurrently.  The closure is expected to remain in place until the end of day on July 18.

Sidewalks will remain open with pedestrian access to businesses not affected. However, an early step in the paving process is the application of what is known as a tack coat on the current asphalt surface, which will remain in place for two days prior to paving. 

Officials say the tack coat will help bind the current asphalt surface to the new asphalt. It is black, very sticky and may be tracked off the road onto the sidewalk and potentially inside businesses by pedestrians or unsuspecting staff. 

Crews will be laying road fabric and pylons at intersections to provide pedestrians with a means of navigating downtown without stepping on the tack coat. Those on foot are encouraged to use those crossings. 

The following is a general sequence of construction activities to begin next week:

• July 9 – Road Closure and street sweeping

• July 10 – Tack Coat

• July 11 – Tack Coat and patching in front of Healthfitters

• July 12 to 13 – Paving

• July 14 to 18 – Permanent line markings

• July 18 – Road Open

• July 20 to 27 – Concrete repairs in front of Healthfitters

• August – Installation of planter hangers on street poles and correction of any remaining minor deficiencies.