Following a surprise ground disturbance discovery, the Town of Rocky Mountain House will spend another $20,000 on phase 1 of the wayfinding sign project.
The contactor identified prevalence of underground fibre optic and other services near the sign sites that prohibits the use of screw piles. The installation can proceed with hydro excavation and cement piles for an additional $20,000.
Coun. Dale Shippelt, who has been skeptical of the project, questioned whether contingency money should have been set aside before the project was greenlit.
“I would sooner cut back on something on the program than increase the budget on this,” he said.
Coun. Tina Hutchinson reminded council that the original budget for the project was $200,000, with the new total phase 1 cost of $157,928 still coming in well below initial projections.
“We are doing everything we can to invest in Rocky Mountain House, I think the [wayfinding signs] will give a facelift to the town,” said Coun. Marley Capraro. “If we want people to invest in us, we need to be able to invest in ourselves.”
Concept drawings of proposed wayfinding signs in Rocky Mountain House, as presented to town council Feb. 11, 2025. (Town of Rocky Mountain House)
Back on May 7, council awarded a $137,928.13 contract following a competitive process that drew seven proposals ranging in price from $124,000 to $362,000.
Phase 1 will see six primary and six secondary vehicular signs installed, along with updates to four large trail maps and six smaller ones. The signs will be made of aluminum and mounted on wooden posts—some towering as high as 20 feet.
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