Residents will be running into construction on the streets of Cranbrook this week for a few projects.
Starting on Monday, city crews will be going to work at the Clock Tower Square on Baker Street for additional beautification that will be completed roughly next spring.
Public work crews will start with removing existing paving stones, trees and portions of the city sidewalk along Baker Street in order to replace a water main and other infranstructure that runs under the square.
Public Works will ensure access to both the Royal Bank and the businesses inside the SunLife building at Baker Street and 9th Avenue should remain open. The area may be congested and parking will likely be limited because of staff and equipment.
There will be fencing and signage in place for the duration of the project and the city encourages residents to avoid walking on the road to get around the construction area.
Upon completion of the project, there will be decorative concrete and walkways with new landscaping including additional trees, shuts, perennial planters, grassed areas. an irrigation system and a drinking fountain.
The clock tower square will have new benches, tables, garbage cans and lighting similar to what's currently lining 10th Ave between Baker Street and 1st Street.
Council identified the clock tower square as a 2014 capital project in recent budget deliberations, which comes at the cost of $200,000. Of that cost, $150,000 was carried forward from 2013 while $50,000 came out of surplus.
The public will be able to use the existing paving stones, which will be temporarily stored at the city's gravel pit on Cobham Ave.
While work at the clock tower will take a few months, there is also going to be another short-term project by CPR staff at the railway crossing at King Street running all week.
The crossing will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project, as CPR staff are removing their three track crossings and replacing the concrete panels associated with the tracks.