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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A summer's worth of road work to replace Northland Trailer Park's water and sewer lines is nearing its end.

All four lanes on Franklin Avenue at the Old Airport Road intersection were re-opened on Sunday afternoon, much to the delight of Yellowknifers who commute between the south end of the city and the downtown core.

"Right now, I think people are happy," said Nalini Naidoo, the city's director of communications and economic development. "I know it was tough for some people."

Chris Greencorn, director of public works, who had originally estimated that workers would be lucky to finish the construction in two weeks, said he is pleased the work is done for now.

However, Greencorn said a section of Old Airport Road between Byrne Road and Franklin Avenue still needs to be dug up.

"The construction on Franklin was for the sewage. We need to do the water," said Greencorn.

Greencorn did not have a timeline for when that work would take place, but said that it was likely to happen before the end of the construction season. He said the city would have a better idea of when that would happen by the end of the week.

"I know people are probably fed up, but it's better to get it all done at once," he said.

He added that because the work will not take place at a major intersection, it would not create as many traffic delays as before.

Commuters were not the only ones happy to see an end to the construction on Franklin Avenue.

Several residents in Northland said the detour led to an increase in reckless drivers cutting through the trailer park along Norseman Drive in an attempt to find a short cut around traffic jams.

"Residents (of Northland) drive 30 (km/h) or less, then all of a sudden you (saw) people going over 45 (km/h)," said Jess Wang-Aucoin, who lives on Norseman Drive in Northland.

Wang-Aucoin said she wouldn't let her four-year-old son walk to the car while the construction was going on.

"I (couldn't) take the chance," she said. "I know Yellowknifers have been patient with us as far as us causing the traffic jam, but if people are going to cut through, they should at least obey the speed limit."

Tara Travis, whose Stepping Stone Family Day Home is also located on the Norseman Drive, said she became increasingly worried for the safety of children in the neighbourhood over the past two weeks.

Travis said she has a fence in her yard but that many of the children in the area tend to play in the street.

"It takes nothing for a kid to get distracted by a ball bouncing on the road," she said, adding she has been tempted to jump in front of the cars just to make a point."

Both Travis and Wang-Aucoin said they would like to see bylaw enforce the speed limit more often in the park.

Naidoo said bylaw was not targeting Northland while construction was taking place, although the city put up "local traffic only" signs at the entrance to the trailer park. She added, now that construction is done, people speeding through the trailer park should be less of an issue.

Travis said she is not looking forward to future construction, but understands it must be done. She also has a message for anyone who plans to use Norseman Drive as a shortcut when traffic along Old Airport Road is diverted.

"Slow down and remember there are children."

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