Summerfield Boulevard is currently closed to through traffic as City crews work to replace a water line.

Glenn Archer, Team Leader for Water Services, explained that the pipes in Airdrie's water system are regularly monitored to make sure the pipes are in good condition. The pipe in question was identified to be replaced, and they planned the work for this summer because of it's proximity to A.E. Bowers. In order to replace the water line, crews have had to tear up a significant portion of Summerfield Boulevard as well as the school's parking lot and portions of it's field.

Archer explained that the plan is to get the work done before school is back in session.

"The schedule has our contractor finished prior to school in terms of water main replacement. There may be some minor things about actually paving and replacing the curbs and gutters and sidewalks and the rehabilitation of the road itself. The road will be open."

Any paving on the road or parking lot that needs to be done will be finished on the weekends so that it doesn't interfere with traffic. Archer said they know the day school starts, and are determined to finish before then.

"This particular portion, which is the biggest risk for us because it's interfering with the school, this will be done before the end of the month. Children will be back in school on the fifth of September, so our goal will be to actually be out of there."

Once the current portion is finished, there is still more work to do. The entire water line needs to be replaced, and it runs from Main Street, under Highway 2 and all the way to East Lake. Archer explained once the portion by the school is finished, the rest won't affect residents.

"This is the biggest impact to residents. After that they'll be in the utility right of way which is on the other side of Summerfield Boulevard, and then they'll be under the highway which will certainly not bother anybody because it's under the highway. And then there's a little bit of work in the field down around the cemetery, but none of it is impacting traffic or residents."

The entire project is expected to wrap up sometime in October.

 

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