The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon Director of Works and Operations Rick Bacon knows firsthand that looks can be deceiving. While city workers are over halfway done the massive Main St. pipe replacement project, Bacon says there's more left than meets the eye. "We're slightly ahead of schedule, but not like it looks," he states. "A lot of people are saying we're so far ahead of schedule, but if you look at what has to follow putting the pipes in, there's quite a substantial amount of work that has to be done." Although over 80 per cent of the new piping was expected to be in place by today, Bacon says there is still at least a month to go before his crew is off the street. Workers must still fill in and resurface excavated areas, put the west sidewalk back together and repair sections of the existing sidewalk. As a finishing touch, new benches, stylish planters and matching garbage cans will line the busy sidewalks, while traditional-styled light standards will replace the current black poles. With his workers clocking as many as 70 hours a week, Bacon says the public has been very gracious. "We have had nothing but good comments from people," he says. It's a sentiment he shares toward the workers. "I'm very impressed with the way my guys have worked," comments Bacon, adding that this goes for those on the project and those keeping up with the rest of the work. Indeed the only bad news so far has been for the amateur historians who were hoping the men would find bits of Flin Flon's past beneath the pavement. "Surprisingly, we've found absolutely nothing," reveals Bacon, adding that he's frequently asked about this. City workers began the $1.4-million project in early May, replacing all sewer, water and storm sewer lines beneath the northern and middle blocks. Bacon expects to be wrapped up around the first or second week of August.
