Muni passes sidewalk seating bylaw
Municipal council unanimously passed a new bylaw regulating commercial use of public land for sidewalk seating and the farmer鈥檚 market, April 19.
Restaurants interested in sidewalk seating will have to pay a $100 permit fee each season, as well as $25 fee per seat, when the current pilot project expires May 31.
The fee for the farmer鈥檚 market will be $60 per event. An earlier draft of the bylaw included busking, but it was removed and will instead be administered as part of a one-year pilot project this summer to determine whether or not to include busking in the bylaw. Construction season begins, expect delays
Motorists driving along Highway 16 should expect delays as work begins on several bridges east and west of Jasper.
According to Parks Canada, motorists should expect delays of up to 30 minutes as construction continues on both of the Rocky River Bridges, located 34 km and 37 km east of Jasper.
During construction, the highway will be reduced to a single lane with alternating traffic until June 30.
Lanes will also be narrowed at the Athabasca West Bridge, 21 km east of Jasper, and the Miette Bridge, less than a kilometre west of town, as both of those bridges are rehabilitated.
Work will occur seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Speed reductions between 30 km/hr and 60 km/hr should be expected in work zones with traffic control personnel and traffic lights on site. Delays will vary according to intensity of construction and volume of traffic.
The boat launch point at Athabasca West bridge will remain open during construction, however parking for the boat launch will be at the Overlander Trail parking lot.
Operators hauling an overwidth load should contact Jasper Dispatch at 780-852-6155 to arrange for access to Highway 16 through Jasper National Park.
Construction also began this week on a retaining wall that separates Lake Annette鈥檚 beach from Ochre Lake. According to Parks, a 140 metre section of the Lake Annette loop will be closed for the work, however, the beach will remain open on either side of the closure, as well as all other sections of the Lake Annette loop.
The work is expected to be completed by the beginning of May.
In town, construction has already begun at the Miette-Geikie intersection, which is being redesigned to improve traffic flow and crosswalk ramps on Connaught Drive between Aspen Avenue and Hazel Avenue are also being improved. The work for both projects will be carried out between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Library hosts annual poetry contest
Calling all poets.
The Jasper Library is now accepting entries for its annual Patron鈥檚 Choice Poetry Contest to celebrate National Poetry Month.
People are encouraged to submit up to three entries by April 23.
Entries will be posted anonymously in the library so patrons can vote on their favourite poem.
Voting is open until April 29 and the winner will be announced on April 30. The winner will be awarded $50 donated by Jasper Friends of the Library.
To submit an entry, visit the library at 303 Bonhomme St. or email [email protected].
All entries must be on a single-sided page.
