Lakewood experiencing significant delays due to weather

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Despite a series of weather-related delays, Phase 2B of development in Lakewood of Strathmore is nearly complete, with roads, sidewalks, lights and pathways soon to follow. 

“We have been moving along very fast. One thing though is, Mother Nature has provided us with the most amount of rain in the month of July that we have ever seen and so because of that we are behind schedule,” said Scott Silva, director of sales and marketing for Lakewood of Strathmore. “Typically, when rain comes, people will think you might have only lost two or three days and then you go back to work, but a lot of times, you actually lose more than the two or three days all because of logistics, mobilization for equipment, [and] even just for the ground drying.”

Silva explained due to adverse weather conditions, the project is now approximately a month behind schedule.

Throughout the course of the phase, another 15 waterfront homes are to see construction, as well as 30 duplexes that have been approved for building permits.

Announced in April, water, sewer, and plumbing services have also seen extensive progress in the neighbourhood and are approaching completion. 

“Deep services – your sewers, your water lines, we have got all those things now done and (the contractors) are now doing inspections and all the high-pressure testing, and then all the shallow utilities will start to go in,” said Silva. “The shallow utilities are where you start to get things like your light standards, all the things for Telus, and Shaw/Rogers, but right now we are basically at the finish line for all the sewers and deep services, which means we immediately then jump to all the roads and pathways.”

Going forward, much of the infrastructure which is being established in Lakewood will also serve to service other developments on the west side of Strathmore.

The 18-acre recreational lake, which was announced in January, has begun construction. The current goal is to have it nearing completion by next year.

“It has been a lot of work; there is so much engineering to go on, so many different approvals, so much planning and all that, then it comes down to dirt. There is so much dirt that needs to get moved and part of where that dirt is now going is to the new west boundary road to Lakewood,” said Silva. “It will be going in between Lakewood and Oxbow golf course and will go all the way down to Wildflower. The way we are able to build that road is with all the dirt coming out for where the future lake is. Second to that, the new road is also going to be another entrance for Lakewood.”

As it currently stands, the lake is currently in the design and approval stages, however that dirt has already begun to be moved.

Construction timelines will continue to be adjusted as weather permits throughout the Lakewood of Strathmore development.