Fitzgerald Bridge in the R.M. of Meota. (submitted photo/R.M. of Meota)
Infrastructure upgrades

R.M. of Meota plans several infrastructure upgrades with MEEP funding

Jul 7, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The Rural Municipality of Meota No. 468 will see some upgrades with help from the province’s Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) 2020 funding.

The R.M. has plans for four infrastructure projects for the $134,099 awarded. The municipality will use $84,099 to undertake repairs on L’heureux Road, apply $10,000 for the Whitemud Road culvert replacement; use $30,000 for the Iverson Road repairs, and apply $10,000 for the Fitzgerald Bridge design work.

CAO Kirk Morrison confirmed the work on these projects is expected to commence this summer and be completed this fall.

Reeve Sherry Jimmy said the municipality’s strategy was to spread the funding across various priority areas of the municipality, rather than use it all on one large project.

Jimmy said for the roadway work in particular the R.M. is choosing to tackle high priority areas in smaller stretches, and to complete these projects that in many cases have been long outstanding.

“We’re certainly searching for more infrastructure dollars to rebuild more of our roads,” she said. “I think it’s safe to say, and I think our Asset Management Program is probably going to confirm this, that many of our roadways far outlive their life expectancy. So we are always looking for grants, or additional funding to upgrade our roadways, which are a major portion of our municipality and an essential service to our ratepayers.”

Jimmy said the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) has identified the Fitzgerald Bridge as a high priority for improvements in its annual report.

“It is still an old concrete structure bridge, from many many years ago,” Jimmy said. “The way that the bridge is designed does not facilitate heavy and large farm equipment going across it, nor is it able to handle the weights of this day and age. So that bridge needs a total replacement with more modern infrastructure.”

The culvert replacement for Whitemud Road is also a top priority.

“It’s a very old culvert that is basically disintegrating and needs to be replaced,” she said of the upgrade project.

Jimmy is especially looking forward to having the L’heureux Road repairs done, for the area located west of Aquadeo, past the Aquadeo golf course.

“It’s not a large section of road but it is a section of road that has been in disrepair for a number of years,” she said, adding the upgrades will help meet the needs of modern day traffic in the area.

“It’s a very high traffic road,” she said.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

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