Jasperites have been left standing in the rain waiting for trains to pass at the Hazel Avenue crossing after the municipality removed two train shelters from that location.

The two shelters, which sat on either side of the tracks, were removed as they were in the way of construction, said director of environmental services, Ken Quackenbush.

“I suppose for this down time, we could have put them back,” Quackenbush said. He noted they weren’t put back as the concrete pads on which they stood had been removed. Without them, the shelters were susceptible to strong winds or vandals.

Now sitting in storage, the plan is for the shelters to be put along the Discovery Trail with one expected to be on Connaught Dr. between the Amethyst Lodge and the Sawridge Hotel.

The concrete pads were saved from Hazel Ave. and will simply be re-seeded into their new locations, added Quackenbush.

The construction of the underpass stopped around Christmas as the installation of 22 metre piles (steel columns that support heavy loads) could not be completed in the work blocks given by CN.

A recent meeting between CN engineering and the design group has seen plans for shorter piles and a new design approved, said Quackenbush.

CN has now approved the piles to be 17 metres along with longer work windows. This work is due to commence again in March.

It should take about two weeks for the piles to be placed in the ground, at which point the temporary bridge spans can be constructed.

According to Quackenbush, one advantage to completing the work in March will mean less train traffic and a more productive work schedule.

Once the temporary bridge spans are in place, construction can continue without disrupting CN services.

Quackenbush hopes that the underpass will be finished by July 2010.