Town planning 2021 infrastructure upgrades
By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Town of Strathmore is leading over a dozen infrastructure projects this year, including a major upgrade of Westridge Road and repairs to the outfall structure at the Strathmore Lakes pond.
During the March 10 committee of the whole meeting, Ethan Wilson, the town’s infrastructure manager, presented an overview of the work the department is planning this year. There are 15 infrastructure projects planned for 2021, including water, sewage, stormwater and transportation initiatives.
One of the town’s two major projects this year is the Westridge Road beautification project, for which there is a $2.6 million budget. This includes water, sewer and stormwater upgrades, and a roadway realignment. These efforts will prepare for the beautification work, to be performed in 2022. This will include planting trees and shrubs, and installation of a pathway and benches.
The department has been consulting business owners along Westridge Road. Most are supportive of the project, said Wilson.
The other major project this year is the Strathmore Lakes pond outfall upgrade. The current outfall system does not function correctly. This upgrade is intended to help flooding issues that have happened at the pond in the past, including last summer. The work will be performed in the drier late summer months, to minimize costs of moving water.
Some of the infrastructure projects are those done on an annual basis. This includes pathway development and replacement, for which $140,000 is budgeted. New pathways through Centre St. Park and Cambridge Glen will be built. Pathways in Kinsmen Park suffering root intrusion will also be repaired.
There are two rapid flashing beacon (RFB) crosswalk installations planned. One is at the intersection of Archie Kleiber Trail and Ranch Ridge Court, and another is on Stratford Blvd. at the Wheatland Elementary School playground. “It’s a busy road with lots of young kids that we would like to help protect,” said Wilson.
The department is also scheduling four planning projects for work to be performed in 2022. One is for new stormwater infrastructure for a section of Ridge Road between the Co-op cardlock and the Co-op gas bar, where it is now lacking. Another is Willow Drive, requiring utility main replacement.
Also planned is about $1 million in capital projects by EPCOR, the company maintaining the town’s water and wastewater systems and providing maintenance. These are mostly around the wastewater treatment plant, but also include an assessment of the Brentwood reservoir.
Wilson also provided a recap of the department’s work last year.
In 2020, the town completed 18 capital projects (not including the Strathmore Municipal Building) with a total construction value of about $2.5 million. Each project was reported to be completed within budget.