The city of Kamloops says the Victoria Street West Improvements Project is still on track to be completed by early summer.

Capital Projects Manager Darren Crundwell says crews will be completing electrical and other utility service changeovers for Victoria Street West businesses and residents this month.

He tells NL News it’s one of the toughest parts of the entire project.

“We’re trying to do it in the evenings and weekends and when it’s most convenient for the business,” he said. “Generally speaking we’re taking probably about 8 to 16 hours to do everything. We want to structure these service disruptions so it works for everybody.”

There will some lane closures to accommodate the changeover work, along with traffic delays, though nothing as significant as last year.

“The public isn’t seeing the biggest construction impact but we are physically interrupting the service to these businesses and if we are not well planned, and there’s delays, then these businesses are going to be impacted even more than they already are,” added Crundwell.

He says once the service changeovers are complete the hydro poles along the Victoria Street West corridor will be removed. As well, pedestrian signals will be installed at the crosswalks in front of the Mustard Seed and Sun Life.

“Right now you’re seeing the actual physical disconnect between the overhead lines and the connection made between the underground services to the individual businesses,” noted Crundwell.

Crews will also doing landscaping work – including the installation of bricks, fences, and plants – is ongoing along the Victoria Street West corridor.

The city is also reminding drivers that the 30 km/hr reduced speed limit is in effect 24 hours a day through the construction zone. There are also temporary bus stops in place on Victoria Street West near Polar Battery  and on Seymour Street West across from BCLC’s upper parking lot.