Installation of a new $139,000 surface for the walkway along the Marina at the City’s waterfront starts this week.
See: Accessible marina pathway to take wooden boardwalk's place at waterfront with council approval
The wooden boardwalk was removed last fall and left as aggregate through the winter months.
The Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) recommended a hard paver surface instead of the traditional wooden boardwalk. MAAC advised the warping lumber made for a "bumpy, rough surface for wheelchairs and individuals without full mobility," and paving stones have a smooth surface that is more accessible.
A staff report suggested heavy equipment resting on the boardwalk, used to assist with the dock ramps, was causing the wooden structure to fail under the weight. The work will cover the section between the wharf and the marina.
The City sees the concrete pavers as a cost-effective, long-term solution to these issues. "The paving stones are well suited to a high traffic and tourism-focused area of the City. A wooden timber edge will be used to help tie into the feeling of the previous wooden boardwalk," says a staff report.
The work will be conducted in phases over the next four to six weeks beginning at the boat launch end of the walkway. Access to the marina will be maintained throughout the project.
Set up for the project site is taking place today, with construction set to start tomorrow.
With files from Stu Campaigne.
