West Jasper Place residents frustrated with city over sewer line delays
CBC News | Posted: October 4, 2016 2:29 PM | Last Updated: October 4, 2016
'What I want to see the city do is commit resources and funds to this to get it over and done with'
Sewer repairs in West Jasper neighbourhood have led to years of construction, noxious smells, and noise, but city officials say there's no timeline when it will be finished.
The city is repairing the sewer line at two locations on 151st Street, at 100th Avenue and one block south on 99th Avenue.
This is the intersection of the city's main sewer lines from the north, east, west and south.
The city discovered that the 45-year-old lines, deep below the surface, need repairs which were not expected for at least another 30 years.
At a public meeting Monday residents were told that the city needed yet more time to inspect and repair the lines.
Roger Lakey, who lives just south of the construction site at 151th Street, says residents are hearing the same story over and over again.
"What I want to see the city do is commit resources and funds to this to get it over and done with, to have the correct repairs done in a timely manner, and to address the neighbourhood renewal that has gone undone," Lakey said.
Lakey is frustrated by drivers making U-turns and using his driveway to turn around.
Irene Blain, of the West Jasper/Sherwood Community League, said she's glad that faults in the line were spotted and that more inspections will be done.
"I want them to take the time to thoroughly inspect and to do the work so that when they leave they leave and they don't come back," Blain said.
She worries that sewer lines in other parts of the city have similar issues, but have not been inspected.
The current repairs are expected to be complete in spring, but the city isn't giving a firm date in case more issues are found during continued inspections.