A partial victory for High River residents who've wanted to get 12 Avenue west of Centre Street reopened to two-way traffic.

The Town was adamant the temporary berm would stay until construction started on the southwest berm but that could be at least a year away.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says there's another consideration as well.

"The other big thing that changed the conversation was that MacLeod Trail, between the new roundabout and 7 Street is slated for upgrades so that thing is going to be torn up in front of Spitzee school and everything," he says. "We absolutely have to get 12 Avenue back to two way, there's no 'yes or no', we've got to figure out a way to do it."

He says Councils directed administration to move the concrete barriers along 12 Avenue but the bags will remain in place. He says they looked at removing the bags and putting the Jersey barriers, the concrete barriers in their place but that would only provide about 900 cubic metres per second of protection from a flood, whereas the bags provide protection up to 1,200 cms.