Walkway plan expanding this summer

By the end of the summer, pedestrians in Iqaluit should walking on level two-metre-wide paths covered in crushed gravel.

The second phase of the walkways plan includes completing the stone elipse and the construction of a raised drum at Iqaluit Square (near the courthouse and elder’s centre) at a cost of $131,000, out of a budget of $220,000 for the project.

It also includes landscaping in front of the post office and the Nunavut Arctic College arts and crafts building, where the city will use its small supply of pink granite rock as gravel, and install stone benches and sculptures. This will cost $165,000 out of a budget of $405,000.

The only catch is that the stone masons will not be able to take on any apprentices for training this summer, after last summer’s training program fell apart. Bertol said she hopes to resume the training part of the program during the third year of the project, which will include more entry-level work.

Some councillors noted that the walkways will not be a great benefit for people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers.

“If we’re pushing them back onto the paved surface, then we’re not achieving what we set out to do,” said CAO Ian Fremantle.