Construction schedule set for Extra Foods

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

The increasing construction costs of the new intersection development at the corner of 55th Street and Highway 2, is expected not to cause any delays in the construction of the Extra Foods or the new hospital. Nick Shybunia, developer of the property, says he is trying to solve the difficulties that have been met. “I don’t think it will (affect the starting dates of any of the construction),” says Shybunia. The design of the intersection, completed by engineers hired by Shybunia, has seen an increase in costs. “What was anticipated by the developer as a simple intersection has proven to be much bigger and a lot more complex,” says High Prairie CEO Larry Baran. “A project that was originally estimated as half a million dollars is now going to cost close to $1.5 million.” Baran adds town council will be doing as much as they can in the future to help Shybunia and the project continue. “The mayor (John Brodrick) is adamant that there will be no delays on these projects,” says Baran. On Jan. 5 Brodrick, development officer Heather Ferguson and Baran met with Alberta Transportation to discuss the intersection planned for the new store. Baran says he and Ferguson will head the project. “The developer is having some challenges there that exceed his experience, so the mayor has asked that Heather and I take the lead,” says Baran. “Everyone wants construction to commence this spring, so to ensure that the project is complete Alberta Transportation has requested the Town to initiate the provincial applications.” The stages in closing the land deal between H.P. Farm Supply and Westfair Foods are close to completion and a construction timeline has been temporarily set. Lori Stene, director of public affairs for Westfair Foods (Extra Foods), says the plan is to start construction in the summer of 2007. The hope is to complete the project within six months. The construction timeline will depend on a number of factors, starting with weather and availability of labor, adds Stene. The design of the Extra Foods building, says Stene, will be similar to others but will be slightly modified to suit the community. Stene adds that Westfair has every intention of developing a store in High Prairie and that local residents should not be deterred by the time it has taken to get to this level of development.

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