Proposed roundabout won’t move ahead without grant funding

A proposed roundabout to fix the confusing intersection at Victoria Road and Fourth Street won’t move ahead without grant funding.

At their May 23 meeting, Revelstoke City Council gave its nod of approval for city staff to apply for a grant application through the Federal Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund to cover the cost of the project.

“I think it’s going to be an exciting project if we get funding,” said Mayor Mark McKee. “If we don’t get the level of funding this project needs I think it may be a long way off. This is definitely an area that needs some help.”

Mike Thomas, director of engineering and development, said the project would be a huge undertaking. So far the city has received a letter of support from the Ministry of Transportation. The city is also looking at obtaining additional letters of support from ICBC and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.

“Every vehicle that’s travelling to the ski hill from out of town travels through this intersection,” said Thomas. “This roundabout design is a fairly simple piece of infrastructure to design and maintain.”

Councillor Gary Sulz asked about the need to remove railway tracks if the project was to move ahead. Currently CP Rail owns part of the land that would be required if a roundabout is to be put in at Fourth and Victoria.

Thomas said if grant funding is successful, the city would need to look at working with CP Rail to find solutions.

“If we don’t get this grant funding we will probably not be looking at doing this project in the next year. If we do get funding we will be doing the project and asking the railway to deal with the intersection,” he said.

The total budget for the project is $5.85 million. A significant portion of the budget is for underground work, including $208,300 for storm sewers, $572,300 for sanitary sewers, $351,200 for water works, $200,000 for street lighting, $272,300 for irrigation and landscaping, and $80,000 for shallow utilities.