Voght Street Upgrade Begins
SEPTEMBER 2023 to FALL 2024
The City will start Part One of the Phase Two upgrade of Voght Street. This Part One project covers from Blackwell Avenue to the Nicola Valley Hospital entrance in mid-September 2023. This work will continue until fall 2024. Traffic disruptions of single-lane, alternating traffic is expected. Short-duration detours along Parker and Juniper will be announced when required. Survey and general layout work may be seen on-site prior to mid-September.
When funding is available, Part Two of the Voght Street upgrade will continue the main alignment work from the hospital entrance to Belshaw Street/River Ranch Road. Part Three of the upgrade will cover the roundabouts at two intersections: Grimmett Street and Walters Street. The entire project includes active transportation pathways, water, sewer, storm drains, as well as paving.
Flood-affected Park Repairs
Quilchena Avenue | Planned Renovations
SEPTEMBER 1 – OCTOBER 3, 2023
Three parking spaces and the sidewalk outside of 2025 Quilchena Avenue will be affected by building renovations for much of September. The three parking spaces will be occupied by two 20 foot seacans or construction dump bins during renovations from about September 1, 2023 until November 1, 2023.
The sidewalk will be closed for several hours around September 4 or 5, as well as September 11 to 14, 2023. Local businesses are being notified by the contractor.
West Merritt | Active Transportation Path
SPRING-FALL 2023
The WEST MERRITT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATH is a provincially-funded project (2020-2021) to create more pathways for walking and biking, connecting various points within the city. Work on this project started early September 2022, with a planned continuation throughout the 2023 Spring-Fall season.
The project may continue into 2024 as Fortis has intermediate pressure mains located throughout the project area. The timeline for project completion is pending approvals from Fortis.
As this is an active construction site, the public is asked to refrain from using the path for their own safety and to refrain from damaging the site. Construction signage and barricades will continue to remain in place while the project is ongoing.
Voght to Middlesboro Bridge | Active Transportation Path
SUMMER-FALL 2023
Crews are working on the WEST MERRITT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATH along Voght Street towards the Middlesboro Bridge. Current construction will impact sidewalks. No traffic control is expected at this time.
Coldwater Avenue | Active Transportation Path
JULY 31 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2023
Crews will be working on the Active Transportation Path along Coldwater Avenue between Chapman Street and Greig Street. Traffic control with single lane alternating traffic is expected intermittently.
Voght: Blackwell to Hospital | Active Transportation Path
FALL 2023 – FALL 2024
Planned upgrades to Voght Street from Blackwell up to Belshaw Street/River Ranch Road will incorporate an ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PATH.
Middlesboro Bridge Plans
SPRING – FALL 2024
The City has received funding to rebuild the Middlesboro Bridge on Voght Street. The new span will be approximately 1.5 metres higher than the original structure and built to withstand a one-in-200-year flood event. It will increase the water volume by 65% compared to the original bridge and is proposed to accommodate two lanes of vehicle traffic and one lane dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. RFPs are being issued Summer 2023. Expected completion is late 2024 or early 2025.
Greater Flood Impact Area Road Repair
FALL 2022 – SUMMER 2023
The City of Merritt has significant road repair and maintenance activities planned as a result of the November 2021 flood. The map below shows the current (Fall 2022 – Summer 2023) project scope of flood affected areas.
Most of this roadwork comprises road grading and pot-hole pavement work, as well as shoulder grading and gravel rebuilding. There are some complete road repairs planned and a small section requiring sidewalk and curb rebuild. All work scheduled is only to repair roads and pathways affected by the flood. Current work planned does not include improvements.
The 2021 flood damage assessment was initiated Spring 2022, after the snow melted. After extensive cataloging and assessment, the project scope was completed in June 2022 and submitted to Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for funding approval. Tenders for the work went out mid-August and the project was awarded mid-September.
Work commenced in fall 2022 on the western portions of the project area (C101, C102, C103) and moves eastward (C104, C105) into Spring 2023.
Any residents noticing flood impacted areas, not identified in this project scope, were invited to submit a request for assessment prior to October 28, 2022. Additions to project scope will occur after planned repairs are complete.
Please do not approach the contractor while they are performing work.
They are not able to make changes to project scope.
SUMMARY OF FLOOD AFFECTED WORK
Current Project Scope
Street |
Length (m) |
| Pine Street | 587 |
| Collett Street/Hicks Street | 353 |
| Government Avenue | 328 |
| Williams Crescent | 251 |
| Spruce Avenue | 82 |
| Walnut Avenue | 382 |
| Fir Avenue | 270 |
| Hill Street | 276 |
| Main Street | 845 |
| Quilchena Avenue | 759 |
| Coldwater Avenue | 1931 |
| Canford Avenue | 651 |
| Voght Park Access | 43 |
| Wilson Street | 95 |
| Spring Street | 299 |
| Hamilton Avenue | 124 |
| Cleasby Street | 314 |
| Chapman Street | 319 |
| River Street | 201 |
| Greig Street | 121 |
| Voght Street | 499 |
| Priest Avenue | 1029 |
| Parcel Street | 134 |
| Garcia Street | 405 |
| Clarke Avenue | 222 |
| McMillian Street | 104 |
| Charters Street | 96 |
| Clapperton Avenue | 887 |
| Blair Street | 95 |
| May Street | 194 |
| Orme Street | 227 |
| Houston Street | 953 |
| Douglas Street | 124 |
| Alleyways | 2630 |
Future Work
- Middlesborough Bridge: Cost estimates in progress. Submission for provincial funding in progress. Target construction schedule start: 2024
- Dike Rebuilds: Work on repairing existing dikes in progress.
FLOOD-AFFECTED CANFORD: (Summer 2022) The City of Merritt has also finished a complete rebuild of flood ravaged Canford Avenue, east of Main Street, along Voght Park, in summer 2022. The pavement, underground utilities and sewer system needed to be completely reinstalled and realigned.