Prince Albert's 15th Street E. is the busiest corridor in the city. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Summer project

Portion of 15th Street East to be widened and upgraded

Mar 30, 2021 | 12:42 PM

The City of Prince Albert has secured nearly half a million dollars of provincial funding to help with the widening and repaving of four blocks of 15th Street East.

The agreement, which city council approved Monday night, will see the province and the city split the cost of the $990,500 project equally under the Urban Highway Connector Program.

The roadway between 1st and 5th Avenue will be widened by 3.5 metres to accomodate three lanes of traffic in each direction. Curbs and gutters will be replaced and redesigned to line up with existing curbs directly to the east and west.

The city’s director of public works, Wes Hicks told paNOW 15th Street is the busiest corridor in the entire city.

“The traffic counts on the 500 block are 28,828 vehicles per day,” Hicks said. “So it’s in bad need of upgrading.”

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A graphic shows the section of 15th Street East to be upgraded. (Council agenda package/City of P.A.)

He explained the upgrades are also needed because of the new set of traffic lights that will be be installed in front of the soon-to-open Peavey Mart development.

“We’re hoping we’ll be able to maintain a smooth flow of traffic even though there’s a second set of lights,” said Hicks, explained the intersection at 15th Street and 5th Avenue will also be upgraded. “Both of these will be T intersections so if you’re in the outside lanes you should be able to move through at least one of the T intersections without having to stop.”

Hicks said the city is looking to start work on the project in June. Further details will be announced at the beginning of May as part of this season’s paving program.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom