Construction resumes on 89th Avenue upgrade project

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A stretch of 89th Avenue is closed as crews work to complete the first phase of construction for the City of Fort St. John’s project to upgrade the road.

Currently, the road is closed between 78A Street and 81A Street. The following roads are restricted to local traffic only during construction: 85A Avenue, 79A Street, 88th Avenue and 81st Street.

According to an announcement from the city, workers are set to pour sidewalks, curbs, and driveways before the final paving and landscaping for the road. 

Construction on the project began last summer after DGS Astro Paving was awarded the contract with a budget of $2.25 million.

It was expected to be completed by the fall of 2023, but some delays meant it couldn’t be finished on time, so construction halted for the season in early November.

At the time, Ryan Harvey with the City of Fort St. John said issues that arose included the discovery of an asbestos water pipe that needed to be replaced, material shortages, and staffing challenges affecting the construction industry.

He also apologized for the frustration that arises from projects like the upgrades to 89th Avenue, calling it “necessary to make sure that when people turn on their water in the morning, they still have water.”

The project is expected to be completed in June.