The pedestrian underpass project at Hazel Avenue in Jasper has been in discussion for nearly three years.

In March 2006, when town council approved the addition of the underpass project to that year’s capital plan, the project’s scheduled start date was in 2007. One month ago, a $475,000 contract was awarded for engineering work related to the project. 

The funding for the project is coming from the Jasper-Banff Infrastructure grant from the provincial government, which provided money based on the fact that the two towns face additional pressures because they are tourist destinations.

The grant money can only be used for infrastructure projects that relate to the influx of visitors, according to municipal manager George Krefting, such as those that address parking, sewage treatment, and so on. “So, for example, we can’t use it to build an arena,” he said.

Funding from the $12-million grant is doled out based on population, so Jasper is receiving just under $5 million over five years. No matching is required on the part of the municipality to receive the money, which must be used by 2011.

The construction of the underpass is projected to cost more than $3 million.

The reasoning behind the underpass project is based on data collected by the town four or five years ago, Krefting said, which showed that the number of people using the railway crossing was increasing, and that the number and length of trains passing through was going up as well.

The planned construction of a new hostel on the south side of the tracks was also taken into account. “The majority of people that use a hostel are pedestrians,” Krefting said, adding the infrastructure grant has made the project more feasible. 

“It’s been up there, on the (priority) list for about five years, and I believe councils to date have not suggested it be taken off.”

As for residents who question the project in light of the troubled economy, Krefting said one thing to remember is that sometimes the best time to do construction is during a recession because prices may be lower. “One of the challenges we’ve had in the last few years is even getting people to bid on projects,” he said.

“The fact is, your pricing will tend to come down when things aren’t as busy elsewhere. There’s probably as many reasons for doing it during a recession as not doing it during a recession.”

As well, the current cost estimates are preliminary, he said, as it’s unclear what construction method will be used.

More details are pending based on discussions with CN, as the railway’s role and co-operation will determine the construction method, which will determine some costs and timelines of the project.