An update on the 4th Ave. wall construction and enhancement was presented to the Town of Cochrane council for information and feedback this week.
Director of engineering and asset services, Pinky De La Cruz, presented the information to council at the Town’s Oct. 3 Committee of the Whole meeting.
The construction of the 4th Ave. retaining wall was approved by council in 2020 as part of the improvements for Highway 1A and Centre Ave. In 2021, council approved an additional $1.5 million for a smoother, higher quality cast-in place-finished wall.
As of 2022, structural work is expected to be completed this fall, with the completion of the facing and finishing targeted between the spring and summer of 2023.
During the meeting, De La Cruz said the nine-metre-high and 100-metre-wide wall will be a prominent feature along Highway 1A once completed.
“This provides an exciting opportunity to add additional artistic elements to the wall beyond the enhancements that council already approved last year,” De La Cruz said.
All three proposed designs incorporate a special pattern on the bottom two to three metres of the wall that will prevent or reduce potential vandalism and graffiti.
Option 2D was chosen as the preferred choice by the project team. It utilizes Town of Cochrane branding in weathered or powder-coated metal on top of barnwood material attached to the wall. De La Cruz mentioned the unique and memorable design would be easy to install and replace in the future, but it would cost an additional $250,000 to do so.
The project team is also looking into having a place making area in the northern section of Highway 1A near the wall with furniture and enhanced landscaping to encourage visitors to take photos with the sign. It would also be tied into the regional pathway that will be constructed north of Highway 1A.
As estimates indicated that an additional budget of $250,000 would be required, De La Cruz said this has been included in the 2023-2025 budget request for council’s consideration. If approved, the artistic enhancements would be added to the scope of the work and targeted to be completed in the summer of 2023, bumping the total project cost to around $1.7 million.
After the presentation, De La Cruz answered questions from council members. Overall, councillors were pleased with the design and excited about the wall enhancement.
“I think it’s great. I think when people come into Cochrane, it will speak to a community that people are proud to be part of, [and] not just a town on the side of the road you roll through,” Coun. Morgan Nagel said.
Coun. Alex Reed pointed out that a major attraction for tourists in Banff is the town’s sign. He also inquired what the benefit of the realignment of 5th Ave. over to 4th Ave. would be.
De La Cruz responded that it would create a continuous flow of traffic from the realignment road. Executive director of development and infrastructure services, Drew Hyndman, added it would add enhanced functionality to the intersection. De La Cruz also confirmed the design has been approved by Alberta Transportation.
Mayor Jeff Genung outlined his excitement for the project and shared his thoughts, referring to it as a “nice-to-have” that would enhance the town’s overall image.
“It’s not very often we get to build a project of this significance and to take it to not just the bare minimum is something I’ve been advocating for years in Cochrane,” he said.
“We do a good job of delivering functional projects to our community, but often I find we stop short in the ‘nice-to-haves’ that would really make a project something we are proud to have.”
Genung adds that since the project is unique and “screams Cochrane,” it is something council has to do. Adding on to the statement by Coun. Reed about the Banff sign’s popularity, he mentioned that almost every community he has visited has something unique associated with their name.
“This is something that can take Cochrane viral in a good way,” Genung said. “… Yes, it’s gonna cost money, [but] it’s a functional piece of artwork that’s just going to be so cool to have in Cochrane.
“Hats off to the team, this knocks it out of the park.”
De La Cruz thanked council for their questions and feedback. The sign enhancement will return to council for a decision in the near future.
