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12TuesdaySeptember92014POLITICSINFRASTRUCTUREByDALICARMICHAELAftermonthsofconstructionatoneofthebusiestintersectionsintownFortSmithtownofcialsrecentlypostedapublicnoticecon-rmingtheconstructionwouldbeongoinguntilatleastmid-September.WehadhopedtobecompletebeforethestartofschoolatthebeginningofSeptemberbutarenowscheduledtobecompletebythethirdweekofSeptembersaidKeithMorri-sonthedirectorofmunicipalservicesforthetownwhosaidforestresalongthehighwaycomplicatedworkthissummer.Weweredelayedinpartbyhighwayclosuresaffectingtheshipmentofessentialcomponents.ThedelaysmeananoldbrokenwatermainthatleftbasementsoodedandtownspeoplewithoutwaterbackinMarchisstillbeingre-paireddisruptingtrafcandcreatinglargedangerouspitsnexttothecommunitystwoschools.AnotherpitlocatedinfrontofthetownsonlybankatthecornerofBreynatSt.andRupertAve.wasrecentlydugupascrewsworktorestoreasaginthesewerline.StillMorrisonsaidthetownsinfra-structureisnotcrumblingassomepeoplemaythink.Forthemostpartourwaterandsewersystemsareinagoodstateofrepairhesaid.Priortotherecentpavingprogramin2010theconditionofburiedsewerandwaterin-frastructurewasassessedaswewishedtoavoidpavingoverburiedinfrastructureonlytohavetoremovethepavementlatertoef-fectrepairs.Morrisonsaidcamerasinstalledthroughoutthesystemin2004provideinsightintocriti-calareasthatmightneedattention.Problemwatersystemvalveswereidentiedforrepairunderthepremisethatshouldawaterpipefailworkingvalveswouldallowtheisolationofthebrokensectionforfastefcientrepair.Howeverthedecisionatthetimewastonotmaketheserepairsduetoothermoreim-mediatebudgetrequirementsMorrisonsaid.ThefracturedpipeatthecornerofConibearandMcDougalwasbelievedtobecausedbysomeundergroundshiftingoverlastwinterandnotanissuenotedinearlierexaminations.Sofarithascostthetownabout265000toxincludinglabourcosts.Muchofthetownswaterandsewagemainsarecomposedoftheoriginalcementandcastironpipesttedalmostsevendecadesagoincludingthepipethatfracturedthisyear.NewerdevelopmentareasliketheWestgrovesubdivisionarenowbuiltusingplasticPVCandHDPEpipingfortheirwaterandsewerneeds.Thoughitwouldbepreferabletore-placetheoldinfrastructurewithupgradedmaterialsthereisjustnoroominthebud-getMorrisonsaid.Wearefundedapproximately1.8millionannuallybytheGNWTforcapitalexpendi-tureshesaidnotingthatthecurrentlinearcostforthetownswaterandsewermainaswellastheroadscoveringthemsitsaround51.2million.Aftertheheadachecausedbytheburstpipethemunicipalgovernmenthasdecidedtotakesomeactiontoavoidsimilarissuesinthefuturethoughthedetailsareyettobeplannedout.Thenextstepistocreateanall-encom-passinginventoryofourburiedinfrastructureandinitiatearegularrepairandreplacementprogramfundedfromareservededicatedtothistaskMorrisonsaid.Hedidnotgiveatimelinefortheinitiative.FortSmithtownsaysinfrastructureOKfornowNoimmediateneedfornewwatersewerpipesmunicipalservicesdirectorPhotoDaliCarmichaelAuroraCampusInuvik1866287-2655ThebachaCampusFortSmith1866266-4966YellowknifeNorthSlaveCampus1866291-4866www.auroracollege.nt.caWelcomebacktoclassYourCareerStartsHereAuroraCollegewouldliketowelcomeallnewandreturningstudentsbacktoourcampusesandCommunityLearningCentres.Letsworktogethertomakesurethe2014-2015withlearningandsuccess.CrewsworktorepairabrokenwatermaininFortSmithatthecornerofConibearCr.andMcDougalRd.TheprojectsdeadlineisextendedfromtheendofAugusttomid-September.