Concept design of roundabout at Pleasant Valley Road and 39th Avenue (City of Vernon image)

By Liam Verster

Infrastructure Upgrades

New Vernon roundabout put off until 2025, funding could go to another project

Apr 19, 2024 | 2:30 PM

The City of Vernon will delay a major road project to accomodate moving power poles.

A staff report to Vernon council stated that, in order to accomodate a new roundabout on Pleasant Valley Road at 39th Avenue, a series of B.C. Hydro powerlines must be relocated.

“The original design concept for this relocation has changed and is now significantly more complex,” the report by Trevor Scott, Vernon’s Manager of Infrastructure Projects, read.

“BC Hydro is doing their best to expediate the design to mitigate schedule delays but is still developing the final plans for this revised concept. At this time, it is not practical to expect that this project would be completed before the fall, prior to the end of paving season, and would result in traffic challenges over the winter.”

It’s recommended the $4.8 million roundabout project be delayed until the spring of 2025 to accomodate the change to the power line layout.

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The report noted that, as this project is being delayed, there is an opportunity to reallocate some funding.

A portion of the $2,150,000 provided from the Growing Communities Fund for the roundabout could instead be used to support the final phase of the 32nd Avenue corridor improvement, which would be replaced with money from the infrastructure levy and infrastructure reserve in 2025.

The report stated the second phase of the 32nd Avenue corridor work is progressing quickly, and the final steps of the project could advance.

The final steps include modifying the road layout from 15th to 18th Streets to include sidewalks on both sides of the road, the bike lanes to above the curb line, and having parking available on the south side of the street, as well as curb, gutter, drainage, water and sanitary service upgrades.

It’s recommended council delay the roundabout for a year, and reallocate up to $4.8 million for the work in 2025. That funding would include $325,000 from Sewer Reserves, $1,847,050 from Development Cost Charges, $507,950 from the Growing Communities Fund, and $2,150,000 from the 2024 Infrastructure Levy and Infrastructure Reserve.

It’s also recommended that the city go ahead with the upgrades to the 32nd Ave. corridor at a cost of no more than $2,550,000. That would be funded through $2,150,000 from the Growing Communities Fund, and $400,000 from Sanitary Reserves.

Council will receive the report for deliberation at the regular meeting Monday, April 22.