For the next two and a half months a section of an arterial route through the North Shore has been reduced to single lane traffic.
As of March 16 four lanes of Fortune Drive, between Oak and Wood streets, are reduced to one lane in each direction along the east side of the road to accommodate sanitary main replacement work on the west side.
According to the City of Kamloops, this traffic configuration will be in place until at least the end of May to accommodate the $1.92 million roadwork project.
The municipality has contracted BA Dawson Blacktop Ltd. to perform resurfacing and utility works on Fortune Drive between Oak Road and Overlanders Bridge. The work involves installation of 300 metres of new sanitary sewer pipe, sidewalk repairs, milling of existing asphalt and repaving work.
Some driveway accesses will be temporarily impacted during the project, but garbage collection is not expected to be disrupted.
There will be temporary road closures beginning March 16 until approximately the end of May.
Aspen Street at Fortune Drive will be closed to all traffic during that time, left turns from Wood Street onto Fortune Drive will not be allowed and a detour will be in place via Schubert drive for access to Walnut Avenue, Evans Avenue and Birch Avenue. Additional road closures on March 20 and March 21 will be in affect on Oak Road at Fortune Drive during the day to accommodate sanitary manhole installation, with a detour route via Tranquille Road. Oak Road at Fortune Drive will be reopened to traffic each night.
As for pedestrian access during the roadwork, the east sidewalk on Fortune Drive remains open and accessible, but the west sidewalk is closed to all pedestrians for the duration of the sanitary replacement work.
Pedestrians are asked to follow all signage and traffic control personnel when travelling through the construction zone.
Transit routes on Fortune Drive will be maintained, but transit riders should expect delays.
Throughout the construction period, vibratory compaction equipment may be in use, so residents with fragile items in their homes should package or protect then from damage due to vibration. There may also be noise disruption due to equipment on site.
Work on the project began March 6, with completion anticipated for the end of June. Construction is expected Mondays through Saturdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with the possibility of some evening work.
