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Northland residents unfazed by construction Unforeseen permafrost hampering water and sewer replacements: city
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 23, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Work on replacing Northland Trailer Park's sewer and water lines is in full swing, leading to road closures and regular blasts of dynamite.
Despite the inconveniences, residents in Northland are relieved that work on the project has finally gotten under way.
"We've got a few inconveniences, but it's not that big a deal. It's more of an inconvenience to not be able to sell your house if you want to," said Adam Smith, referring to the fact that residents in Northland are unable to get insurance on mortgage loans until the aging infrastructure is replaced.
"They've been blasting and it's been loud," added Tanya Short. "But I'm looking forward to the work that's going to be done - finally."
Although work began outside of the trailer park two weeks ago, with sections of Franklin Avenue being torn up, contractors have since moved into the trailer park, where several roads have already been excavated and repaved.
Smith owns a trailer on the corner of Bellanca Avenue and Stinson Road where blasting has been taking place for the last two weeks.
"They blasted right through here," he said. "My house was just shaking."
Smith said having blasting beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays has been frustrating.
Still, he would prefer being woken up early for a few weekends, over the alternative.
"I'd rather have the three years of a little bit of noise here and there in the summer and maybe have to walk over to my house now and then than not being able to sell my house."
Temporary road closures in the trailer park are also being enforced as part of the construction. The city is offering free parking at the Multiplex to those residents who are unable to access their homes with their vehicles.
"With all this construction, it's actually a good thing they're keeping everybody out," said Smith. "If they didn't, people would get hurt and then people would be complaining about getting hurt because they're
idiots."
City officials say the work has been harder than anticipated due to the discovery of permafrost within the work zone. Nonetheless, the city still anticipates the $15.9-million project to be completed within three years.
"We've hit every type of ground condition you can imagine," said Wendy Alexander, manager of public works.
Alexander said the discovery of permafrost means there is less earth that can be used to backfill areas that have already been dug up. Now that contractors are aware of the problem it has since been resolved, she said.
Depending on the weather, construction at Northland will continue until the end of October before shutting down for the winter, said Alexander.
Northland residents are being kept up to date on construction by contractor RTL Construction, and Northland's condo board, says Nalini Naidoo, director of communications and economic development for the city.
Naidoo added that the city has been informing Yellowknifers of delays and road closures associated with the project through social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.
Northland resident Yusuf Hashi says he has not had to rely on the updates to get his information.
"I don't go online often, but I see it because I live here," said Hashi, who has been living in Northland since 1998.
Hashi also insisted that while he has noticed the blasting for the last two weeks, it didn't bother him.
"There's lots of noise, but we like the noise because our sewers will be fixed," said Hashi. "You get up sometimes when you should be sleeping, or sometimes the trailer shakes, but it's good because we know what the outcome of that is."
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