“A real slick, military operation.”

It may seem the Tonquin-Turret Streetworks Project is taking a long time, but the work is moving along according to schedule and in some cases faster.

“It’s taking a long time because there’s a lot of work,” said George Krefting, municipal manager. “There was a lot of underground work that had to be done, gas lines that had to be replaced and currently the curb and sidewalks are going in.”

Ken Quackenbush, director of environmental services said last summer’s construction gave the workers a running start this year. “Having the streetwork done allowed us to get going early this spring.”

He said the project was running smoothly like a “real slick military operation.”

“The crew that you see there working now has been there less than a week, I don’t think they could go any faster,” he said. “They’re installing curbing, gutters and sidewalk and the next step will be base-prep for the roads and paving will follow that.”

Dust control, an issue addressed at the last meeting in April, is underway with trucks spraying water on the streets several times daily to permit visibility for workers and to prevent dust from coating homes in the neighbourhood.

Houses on the streets under construction will experience scheduled gas and water outages later this summer. Quackenbush said the information will be available on the website and the houses that will be affected will be notified directly.

“It may look chaotic because there’s a lot of people involved and a lot of equipment involved,” he added. “But it is going well and I just ask for patience because it will all be over pretty quick.”

Krefting said it will be worth the wait. “People will be able to walk from home to downtown on sidewalks, children getting to school it will be safer for them,” he said. “It will be a much more pleasant experience.”