A slope failure located near the development of the new Midway Centre on 76th Street in Lacombe is being repaired this fall to avoid damage caused by spring thaw.

“City administration is pleased Council has chosen to move forward with this project,” City of Lacombe Engineering Manager Amber Mitchell said. By acting quickly and beginning to repair the slope in 2020 – City staff and our contactors can prevent further damage to the roadway to protect the existing water, sewer, and storm mains installed beneath the road.”

The project is estimated to cost $701,800 with $343,450 currently unbudgeted. In response to the unbudgeted amount, the City of Lacombe has applied for financial assistance from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. At this time, it is unclear whether the city will receive financial aid. All approvals for the project should be in place by September 30th.

For now, the project will utilize funding through Highway 12 and 76th Street Intersection project contingency funds and the Municipal Sustainability Initiative.  If the emergency funding is approved, the money from the contingency fund will be reallocated to another project in 2022.

Once the slope is stabilized, the city will look to paving 76th Street in late 2021 or early 2022 to ensure that there is no further movement with the slope.

From the City of Lacombe: 

Lacombe City Council is taking steps to repair a slope failure on the west side of Crescent Lake next to 76th Street.

City administration recommended stabilizing the slope this fall to avoid any further damage due to spring melt in 2021. Stantec Consulting Ltd (Stantec) and Parkland Geotechnical Consulting Ltd. (Parkland Geo) have identified the root cause of the failure and are designing a solution to stabilize the slope.

“City administration is pleased Council has chosen to move forward with this project,” City of Lacombe Engineering Manager Amber Mitchell said. By acting quickly and beginning to repair the slope in 2020 – City staff and our contactors can prevent further damage to the roadway to protect the existing water, sewer, and storm mains installed beneath the road.”

Once the slope is stable, concrete work and road paving will be completed in late 2021 or early 2022, allowing City staff to monitor the situation to ensure no further movement.

The total estimated cost of the project is $701,800, with $343,450 currently unbudgeted.

The City has applied to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) for financial assistance under the Disaster Recovery Program; however, it is unclear whether this application will be successful.

The project will receive funding through Highway 12 & 76th Street Intersection project contingency funds and the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI); however, if AEMA funding is approved, these MSI commitments will be reallocated to another project in 2022.

The City anticipates all the approvals will be in place by September 30, enabling slope stabilization work to proceed as soon as possible.