The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has awarded a $1-million contract to Squamish-based Alpine Paving for Whistler’s road and valley trail reconstruction project for 2024.
Projects from the RMOW’s infrastructure and parks operations departments were brought together for a $1,043,491.75 contract, and include almost a kilometre of road, and 147 metres of the Valley Trail.
Sections of road include 300m of Lorimer Road, 266m of Whistler Way, 350m of Spring Creek Drive, and 50m of Alta Lake Road North, while sections of the Valley Trail to receive some love in 2024 are near the Meadow Park Sports Centre, in Bridge Meadows, and along Whistler Way—though as noted, the stretches consist of only 147m combined.
It only takes a metre of paving to necessitate a road closure, but according to the staff report, road and trail users can hopefully expect not much in the way of disruption.
“The work planned for busy road and Valley Trail sections will be scheduled to be paved during non-peak periods and take into consideration festivals, events, and minimizing disruption to business in the village core area,” reads the staff report.
“Paving work is expected to begin in June and scheduled to be completed by the end of September.”
In presenting the contract to council at the June 11 regular meeting, the RMOW’s manager of infrastructure services Chelsey Roberts said officials would "like to get the road work completed as soon as possible to decrease any impact to the village.”
According to the report, only one bid was received for the project, which was advertised on the RMOW website in May of this year. The bid from Alpine
Paving was well within the RMOW budget of $1.2 million for 2024, meaning Alpine Paving’s $1,043,491.75 is 18 per cent below what the municipality expected the project to cost. Funding will come from the RMOW’s general fund, which is replenished through property taxes.
Roberts said this year's project is intended to tackle deeper cracks in the road surface that regular patching can't fix, and will require the removal of top asphalt layers and replacement to complete works.
During questioning, Councillor Ralph Forsyth queried how long the sections of the Valley Trail would be out of commission during works, to which Roberts said there is pre-construction work to complete, but paving itself would take a day. As for detours, Roberts said signage will be in place.
Coun. Jeff Murl asked about the cost of paving, noting the average cost per metre of asphalt is almost $1,000.
Roberts explained the sections needing work were in need of more attention, while there was an increase in costs of paving since the 2023 program, which will be factored in to future budgeting.
Coun. Jen Ford asked whether the RMOW could influence start times for construction, noting peak traffic times and proximity to schools.
“If we have any influence there I would love to see it exercised,” she said. Roberts responded the works would likely be carried out over summer break, and the municipality would be advising on optimal start times.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the contract.
