About $20,000 has been allocated for the work, which will include tree thinning, new plantings and raised flower beds on both off-ramps at Exit 506.
Town engineer Dwayne Acton explained that the Exit 506 committee, made up of local business and property owners in the highway commercial area, have worked with town staff and Viridis Design Studio from Riverview over the last few months to develop a beautification plan as they looked for ways to drive more traffic into that end of town.
Acton said after going out to a handful of local firms for quotes on the project, all of the bids came in higher than what was allocated in the town’s budget and so the plan had to be downscaled by about 40 per cent from its original design. He said both the eastbound and westbound off-ramps will still get some upgrades, however, and there is potential to do more in future years.
“It’s something that could be expanded on in the future, if council so wishes,” he said during council’s discussion meeting earlier this month. “But at least it gives us a start on the beautification at Exit 506.”
The contract was awarded to Beach Hill Landscaping, at a cost of $20,700.
The Exit 506 committee hopes to market the exit as a key entrance to visit downtown Sackville.
