One of the most well-travelled areas in Estevan will be closed starting next week, as the resurfacing of Sixth Street between Souris Avenue South and 13th Avenue is slated to begin on Monday, Sept. 21.
The city pledged two years ago to resurface the two blocks of Sixth Street, as well as Souris Avenue South from Sixth Street to Fourth Street, but costs associated with the project shelved it until this year. The two roads make up part of Estevan’s truck route.
Some work has already happened, with concrete replacements in sections of curbing. City manager Amber Smale said the work needed to take place before resurfacing could begin.
Traffic on Souris Avenue and Sixth Street has been reduced to one lane when the work has been taking place.
Not only will local motorists have to find an alternate route during the construction, but heavy truck drivers will also be affected.
“We’ll have to set up a detour route, but we haven’t determined the detour yet,” said Smale.
She expects the heavy trucks will likely be sent down Fourth Street. Fourth has served as the detour route for the heavy trucks in the past when Sixth Street has been closed.
The resurfacing of Sixth Street and Souris Avenue South is expected to take about a month, but that will be contingent on the weather.
She reiterated the city’s desire to have the project finished at the same time that the new truck bypass north of Estevan opens. While some trucks will still have to travel through Estevan, the vast majority are expected to be diverted north of the city.
“Starting the project now, we figure that we’ll be able to complete it very close to when the bypass opens,” said Smale.
If the Sixth Street and Souris Avenue South project opens at roughly the same time as the bypass, then the roads won’t be subject to as many heavy trucks.
