The City of Charlottetown will soon make the path for pedestrians safer at Eastlink Centre.
The tender for the sidewalk project, that will connect the Red Shores parking lot to the arena without forcing people to cross Kensington Road, recently closed with the goal of having it completed before the end of November.
Coun. Mike Duffy, chairman of the public works committee, said the city did tender the project out, but prices came in higher than anticipated.
Following a meeting of the committee on Friday, Duffy said there is a small change in the scope of the work, which was communicated back to the low bidder, who will be submitting a new price based on the change.
“It has to be modified in order to reduce the price but still be effective,’’ Duffy said, adding that he had hoped the work would be done prior to the Charlottetown Islanders season opener, which was last Friday.
The project will involve building a sidewalk that runs along Kensington Road.
Right now, people walking from the parking lot have to cross Kensington Road, walk down the sidewalk and cross back across the road to the arena.
Last year, Red Shores erected a gate that blocks off its loading bays, forcing people to use the street. That has raised concerns over pedestrian safety, considering how busy the area is on nights when there is an event at the arena.
Duffy estimates the sidewalk project will get underway in the next two to three weeks. It’s expected to cost about $150,000.
In the meantime, Duffy said the committee asked the chief administrative officer to speak to city police about having an officer and a vehicle parked by the crosswalk with its emergency lights flashing to improve safety.
“And we’ll do that for every major event (until the sidewalk is finished) to ensure no one gets hurt.’’
The public works committee also discussed delaying some paving work on three city streets because of construction work that is or will be taking place soon.
Those streets are a couple hundred feet of East Royalty Road, Chestnut Street and Dorchester Street.
“We’re not going to go and pave the road and have people show up with heavy equipment,’’ Duffy said. “It wouldn’t do the asphalt any good.’’
Duffy said the paving will be done next season.
The city has also signed a two-year lease agreement with Wilson’s Fuels to use the old Livingston’s Welding building on Kensington Road to store some of its snow removal equipment. It will cost about $3,100 per month, plus HST.
Public works used this building last year on a one-year term.
The committee also agreed to move forward on some sidewalk and curb repair on Belvedere Avenue and pay $284,050 (including tax) for two, three-tonne truck chassis.
