“A number of concerns have been brought to council’s attention,” stated Mayor Randy McLean. “This sidewalk enhancement program was pinpointed as one of the more important issues that needed addressing. The curb upgrade initiative is the beginning of our efforts to bring our community up to a reasonable level of accessibility for all residents.”
Joseph Campbell was awarded the contract for seventeen sidewalk ramp letdowns at seventeen crucial corners in the downtown core. Campbell’s company Artistic Imaging Inc., started the first phases last week by marking out and saw cutting the paving stones at each corner. “I will be removing all the stones I have cut out,” stated Campbell and demoing the curbs and filling them with crush. Then, I will go back and pour each wheel chair ramp so it is easily accessible from either direction at the crosswalk.”
Local contractors were personally invited to participate in the bidding process. However, no local bids were received through Bid B.C.. The bidding procedures are set out in an established public process through the public bid board, Bid B.C. and Artistic Imaging was awarded the contract as the lowest bidder of the four who applied. Artistic Imaging comes to Princeton from Revelstoke and Campbell has worked on many such projects. “We will do our very best to respect the businesses,” stated Campbell. “In the high traffic areas we will be working in the early mornings and evenings.”
Campbell encourages anyone with questions or concerns “to contact me personally on my cell at 250-814-4615, If you have concerns, come to me not the town. The more they don’t have to deal with this the better. We will soon have all the identified ramps replaced to proper standards like the one at the corner of Bugnut Toys business.
“My main concern is that the public please go around our work sites,” urged Campbell. “We are doing our best not to block traffic with large equipment by doing the majority of our work manually, but we do have the corners we are working on blocked off from pedestrian traffic. We really urge everyone to go around the work zone. We will be done in no time and hope to keep any inconvenience at a minimum.”
The town of Princeton chose September as the best time to proceed with the sidewalk enhancement program because it was after the peak tourism season. Citizens are implored to pay heed to the work that is underway. Ninety per cent of the work is scheduled to be completed in four weeks.