Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A project that cost approximately $3 million has made gravel streets a thing of the past in Fort Providence.

A truck drives over one of the newly chipsealed streets in Fort Providence on Aug. 19. The project cost approximately $3 million. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

On Aug. 19, the finishing touches were completed on the Hamlet of Fort Providence's chipsealing project. Twelve kilometres of the hamlet's streets, which include all of the streets with the exception of the industrial area, are now covered in chipseal.

Previously only the community's main street was chipsealed. It was done in 2003 as part of the territorial government's capital plan.

"The benefits are pretty obvious," said Raymond Bonnetrouge, the hamlet's mayor.

The chipseal will eliminate the previous problem of dusty gravel streets. The hamlet used to have to continually water the roads and regularly apply calcium to try and combat the dust, he said.

The chipseal also creates a much smoother surface and should hopefully cut down on road maintenance in the long run, said Bonnetrouge.

The chipsealing project has been in the works for multiple years and through the leadership of three mayors including Tina Gargan and Paschalina Nadli. The hamlet council first proposed the project when the new deal for communities in the territory was adopted through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. In 2007, the project was included in the hamlet's capital plan.

Last year, the necessary drainage improvements were undertaken around the hamlet including deepening ditches and installing and replacing culverts where needed, said Bonnetrouge. Early this August, approximately one week was spent on preparing the streets and then the chipseal was laid in a matter of days starting on Aug. 15.

"It didn't take very long," he said.

"I think people appreciate the fact it has been done."

With the chipsealing project out of the way the hamlet has two other major projects in the works.

The community's indoor swimming pool was closed this year because of mould and moisture problems that were the result of inadequate ventilation and moisture control in the building's design, said Bonnetrouge. The hamlet hired an engineering firm to develop ways the building can be upgraded to resolve the problem. The engineering report is expected shortly and the goal is to have the pool reopened by next summer, Bonnetrouge said.

The hamlet is also focused on the recreation centre.

"There are a lot of problems," said Susan Christie, the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

The building is approximately 25 years old. Drainage around the centre, which is causing problems with the foundation, is one of the primary issues. Parts of the building also leak and mechanical upgrades are required.

The hamlet commissioned a study on the centre a year and a half ago and is now getting a construction timeline. Approximately $1.5 million will be spent on the drainage concerns and the building's outer shell first. Electrical and mechanical issues will be dealt with in a second phase, said Christie. The entire project has an estimated cost of $3.5 million.

The hamlet has received $1.2 million from the Build Canada Fund for the project.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.