Diving Into The New Pool Project

Diving and driving - the Aquatic Centre and Main Street Revitalization project updates

by Barry McDonald

Friday, September 14, 2012

A new sign has appeared across from the water tower. It’s twin has appeared in front of the construction site on the Recreation grounds. The signs were installed to raise the awareness of one of two major projects that are happening in Wetaskiwin; the Regional Aquatic Centre. The other is the Main Street Revitalization project.

In a presentation to City Council on August 27th, Ted Gillespie assured the Mayor and Aldermen that both projects are progressing satisfactorily.

Main Street Revitalization

Gillespie commented on increased information that is now available relating to the Main Street Revitalization Project. “Full page ads now run in both the Wetaskiwin Times and the Pipestone Flyer. The Times will continue to provide project progress and updates and the Pipestone will focus on the businesses along Main Street.”

Ted Okkerse, Publisher of the The Pipestone Flyer is pleased with this new development as, “it provides the opportunity do our part to support businesses that are feeling the effects of decreased traffic flow during the construction process. We sympathize with them because we understand the challenges of running a small local business”.

GENIVAR’s Project Manager and the Contractor are regularly checking in with affected businesses within the construction area to provide progress updates and to respond to concerns raised. GENIVAR has found a location on Main Street at 5210 50 Avenue (the vacant Pieces of the Past space) for a project office that will provide the public with a one stop shop to ask questions, obtain information updates and to view the 3D videos and project boards. This office will also function as the construction office for the remainder of Phase 1 and during construction of Phase 2.

The intersection at 48th Street (by Mickeys Flowers) is open to vehicle traffic. Concrete has been poured at the 48 Street intersection and is proceeding to 49 and 50 Street as the road base is installed. All the sidewalk is poured at the 48th Street intersection.

Earlier concerns about the environmental contamination are less than expected. “It required a smaller amount of dirt removal than originally anticipated. The Contractor is required to install ditch blocking on existing pipes.” (so any contamination that might exist cannot spread along the pipes to other locations) Genivar is working on getting a Phase 1 environmental site assessment complete for the rest of Main Street to identify early in the process of any potential issues in future phases of the project.

Regional Aquatic Centre

“The concrete elements are 60% complete and the Competition Pool floor slab is complete. PCL is starting with the superstructure, working on tank walls and many of the electrical and communication conduits are under slab.” He presented the following summary:

• Concrete 60%

• Elevator Shaft 80%

• Masonry under way

• Under Slab Piping 75%

• First Steel to be erected within two weeks

• Project is on Schedule for completion

• Summer 2013 and September opening

• There is not a corner of the site without activity

He described the “Vision Board prepared by PCL ( and located across from the water tower and at the construction site) is to promote: Community Partnership – Fun/Family, Safety, Quality Workmanship, Completion Summer 2013.

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