Fernie’s west-side story

The RDEK has finished its servicing and restructure project in West Fernie

Hand Avenue was one of the many streets that was included in the RDEK’s servicing efforts. — Photo courtesy Elizabeth Ahlgren

The West Fernie Servicing and Restructure Project has proved to be the largest construction project ever carried out by the Regional District of East Kootenay. The celebration of the project’s conclusion was held on July 25, 2018.

The servicing was approved by West Fernie and the City of Fernie in 2014. Phase 1 began in 2016, and the second phase started in the spring of 2017.

The project has provided West Fernie residents and businesses with new stormwater sewers and sanitary systems. Upgrades included approximately 4.1 kilometres of potable water mains, around 3.4 kilometres of sanitary sewer and 3.3 kilometres of stormwater mains. Each road was repaved after the upgrades were completed.

This upgraded system replaced the previous system that was over 50 years old. It will allow 200 homes in West Fernie to move away from the use of septic tanks. The stormwater management system that was also put in place will provide better management of flooding, runoff and spring melt.

The total cost for the servicing came to approximately $15 million.