Jasper’s renovations to its recreation facilities are facing delays due to the wildfire, with construction now scheduled to finish in December.
The municipality had previously projected the $20-million project would be completed by the end of the third quarter.
“The primary reason for the project delay stems from the evacuation and subsequent site remediation,” said Christopher Read, director of community development, during the Tuesday (Oct. 15) council meeting.
The wildfire temporarily halted work and necessitated additional cleaning, particularly in the Aquatic Centre. Additional scope items, such as a fire alarm system upgrade, have compounded the delays. After remobilizing at the end of September, Carlson Construction resumed activities.
Administration is working with Carlson and the insurer-provided site restoration company to ensure the Aquatics Centre and arena will open in phases as soon as possible. Contractors are now removing scaffolding at the pool.
“In about a week, we will know whether or not there has been any damage caused by that scaffolding,” Read said. “It would delay the pool’s opening. If there is no damage to the pool, then we’re on a two-to-three-week finish of the work we have to do to get that pool open again.”
Read added that they would have a better idea next week of when the pool and arena will be able to reopen.
The Activity Centre previously reopened on Oct. 1, although work is still taking place there.
The project aims to fully renovate and modernize Aquatic Centre changing areas and fully renovate all existing arena dressing rooms while adding new dressing rooms.
It will also address lifecycle reinvestments in mechanical and electrical systems and improve physical accessibility, such as by installing an elevator in the Activity Centre.
According to administration, the current budget remains within approved limits, with a forecasted cost of $20,378,245, representing a minor variance of $186,305. Remediation costs for the fire panel and related devices will be covered by the municipality’s insurer.
The project had initially been budgeted at $14 million prior to final approval, but council had to increase the budget by $6.4 million last year due to inflation.
