Update: Northridge Excavating Ltd. Project manager Bob Mitchell has reached out to inform the public of a rain delay; asphalt paving has been rescheduled to Friday, May 30 and Monday, June 2; sections of Fulford-Ganges between Drake and Alders will have primer application on them over the weekend (May 31-June 1).
The original story appears below.
Contractors said they are reviewing events leading up to recent “extreme” delays during construction on Salt Spring’s busiest stretch of road — and have had discussions with various parties that inadvertently contributed to a day-long delay in hopes of avoiding such snarls going forward.
Northridge Excavating Ltd. Project manager Bob Mitchell said his team had examined the delays on May 13 — and an earlier notable back-up May 6 — and have adjusted their procedures and “determined a way forward” with other impactful road users. Further, he said there would be more detailed and frequent public updates, which should give island drivers better information about when road issues would be present.
“We recognize that we should be updating the public much more often, especially over the last few weeks,” said Mitchell. “Going forward we will be making much greater efforts to keep everyone informed.”
In that spirit, a construction notice issued early Thursday, May 22 warned of emulsified primer being applied to gravel sections of Fulford-Ganges Road Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27-28 — the sticky effects of which drivers may want to avoid by reducing speed and/or trips if possible.
The notice also advised of asphalt paving work scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 29-30 between Drake Road and Alders Avenue, as well as removal of the asphalt surface between Alders and Beddis roads scheduled for June 2.
“To be very clear, we recognize the extreme nature of the delays that occurred,” said Mitchell. “We take traffic management very seriously on this site, and have multiple controls in place to manage all sorts of aspects related to traffic — delays being one of them.”
Mitchell said there would be stretches of roadways that would be gravel-surfaced for as long as 10 days at a time, meaning uneven and/or slippery conditions; he advised obeying signs and driving cautiously.
“Our team is reviewing May 6, 13 and the remaining days of the project very carefully to ensure we maintain everyone’s expectations,” said Mitchell.
Work began last September on the 1.6-kilometre stretch of Fulford-Ganges Road from Seaview Avenue to Cranberry Road known locally as Ganges Hill, a $22.9-million project with planned improvements including pedestrian crossings and refuge areas and paved shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists — a 1.2-metre-wide shoulder heading north (or downhill into Ganges) and 1.8 metres in the southbound direction.
Is there a website that we can go to for updates?
In a Driftwood article from last Autumn, a reconfiguration of the Fulford-Ganges/Beddis intersection was outlined as part of the project. With no work started on that reconfiguration and less than 2 months remaining before project completion, I’m concerned that the intersection reconfig has been scrapped.
It would be awesome if you were able to confirm either way with the construction company and speak to that in your next update.
Thanks for keeping us up-to-date and the other great articles.