Construction on McDonald Drive in Old Town will no longer take place during the Ramble and Ride festival, thanks to a change of plans by the City of Yellowknife.

City spokesperson Sarah Sibley confirmed on Tuesday that construction will begin the week of Aug. 1. Previously, work on the road was expected to begin this month and would not be finished before the Ramble and Ride festival on July 29-31.

SA国际影视传媒漈he section of McDonald Drive this project focuses on sees significant ongoing heaving. These road upgrades are intended to extend the useful life of the road and reduce ongoing maintenance costs,SA国际影视传媒� she stated.

Sibley added that the work will take roughly four to six weeks to complete.

Prior to TuesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 announcement, the city tried to reassure business owners and Ramble and Ride organizers that the festival would still be able to go ahead despite the construction.

In an email to Grogono, Mayor Rebecca Alty stated the contractor was aware of the festival and would take steps to ensure construction work wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 interfere with the event.

She said the stretch of road where the festivities are taking place at the end of the month would most likely be resurfaced with gravel by then.

SA国际影视传媒淭he condition of McDonald Drive required upgrading given the condition of the roadway, the lack of drainage and the amount of maintenance the city has had to put in to addressing issues,SA国际影视传媒� Alty explained in her email to Grogono. SA国际影视传媒淭he current condition is also causing big issues for public transit given the heaves and bumps impact city busses and cause mechanical issues that interrupt transit.SA国际影视传媒�

Revitalizing Old Town

Local business owners and organizers of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 festival were concerned roadwork taking place at the same time as the Ramble and Ride would jeopardize the festival.

Jo-Ann Martin, co-owner of BullockSA国际影视传媒檚 Bistro and president of the Old Town Community Association, said although she understands the need for regular repairs to city infrastructure, SA国际影视传媒淚 just wish there was more communication with all the parties involved.SA国际影视传媒�

A project plan, prepared by Stantec, identifies a roughly 300-metre stretch of road from about 3,503 to 3,524 McDonald Drive as the project site.

Both Ramble and Ride volunteer coordinator Nancy Vail and Old Town Glassworks president Matthew Grogono questioned why the city chose to repave this particular stretch of road.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think this is pretty OK compared to many other areas,SA国际影视传媒� said Vail.

Grogono said the city should instead repave the stretch of McDonald Drive immediately south of the planned work area.

Although Vail is happy to hear news of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 paving delay, she said the controversy over the roadwork is part of a larger issue.

SA国际影视传媒淭his isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just about the road; this is really about revitalizing the arts community in Old Town and Old Town itself,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The city needs to focus on preserving the neighbourhood rather than modernizing it, she contended.

Grogono said many questions still remain about the roadwork: SA国际影视传媒淲hy are they digging up the road in the first place? What is the plan? Are they going to dig up the road and redo it exactly as before? TheySA国际影视传媒檙e ad-hoc responding. It isnSA国际影视传媒檛 an intelligent response.SA国际影视传媒�

Gary:

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