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Council clears the way for critical capital projects

In need of urgent repairs, the John Street Bridge is one of the major projects that was approved by City Council on Monday night that is planned to be completed by late Fall.

In need of urgent repairs, the John Street Bridge is one of the major projects that was approved by City Council on Monday night that is planned to be completed by late Fall. The plagued Pinewood Park Drive sewer extension was also given the go-ahead. 

Two major construction projects that have been on the city’s capital budget radar are finally being addressed after council unanimously approved awarding contracts on Monday night.

Council’s approval paves the way for the city to award a $3.6 million contract to Labelle Bros. Excavating to complete the troubled Pinewood Park Drive sanitary sewer project, as well as a $2.16 million contract to R.M. Belanger Limited for the John St. Bridge replacement project.

The $3.6 million price tag was the lowest bid in round two of the Pinewood Park project, which is expected to get underway again in mid-May with hopes of being completed by the end of November.

That money will be used to pay Labelle Bros. to complete the 550 metres of the mainline trunk sewer that still need to be installed, which is roughly two-thirds of the original project.

There are also 17 sewer laterals still to be installed to service the adjacent properties in the area.

“This is to provide sanitary sewer services to the city’s Southern limits for the city’s long term plan for economic growth,” said Tanya Vrebosch, the chair of the Engineering and Works Committee.

“This area of the city is currently underserviced and, therefore, municipal servicing is required to allow for future development and expansion,” she added.

After the project initially began in 2013, MX constructors, the original contractor, ran into an onslaught of different issues, including problems caused by the high water table.

Last September, the city and the MX team mutually agreed to walk away from the contract and part ways, opening the door for the city to reissue the tender.

But the most recent tender estimates came in between $3.6 to $7.3 million, a far cry from the original $1.6 million price tag.

“This is the unfortunate but expected conclusion to this project,” Coun. George Maroosis put simply.

In order to find the unforeseen funds, the city is removing funding from a list of eight other ongoing capital projects. Vrebosch said the city also lost out on some $600,000 of government funding for the projects.

On Monday, Vrebosch even went as far as saying other non-bidding contractors told her they “wouldn’t touch the project with a 10-foot pole” after the ongoing issues that stalled the project.

“We all know that sometimes things can come up, so I just want to public to be prepared with any capital project that stuff does come up and sometimes projects are delayed,” said Vrebosch. “We start digging things up and sometimes things aren’t what we expect.”

Coun. Mark King questioned Vrebosch on her hopeful phrasing during Monday night’s meeting, instead urging council to keep a very close eye on the project this time around.

“I hope that council is kept up to date on this particular project,” said King. “I know I didn’t see anything in the report about a change as far as a geotechnical report or any of that sort of stuff, so I think it would be important for council to keep a close eye on what’s happening.”

The John Street Bridge, on the other hand, is finally scheduled for a much-needed makeover after being the sacrificial lamb for council’s capital budget fund-shuffling in recent years. 

Previous inspections have identified that the bridge’s barrier system, deck supports and abutment walls do not meet current safety codes and should not be delayed any further.

A city report also states that, in 2008, a structural engineer recommended that bridge be limited to specific load limits as a safety precaution.

“There is only one phase to this project and it should be completed in 2015,” said Vrebosch.

“The additional work will include some minor storm sewer and road work, the sidewalks to the approaches due to the change in road elevation…and constructing an alternate route to the Kinsmen trail that will go underneath the bridge and connect to the existing trail,” she explained. 


Liam Berti

About the Author: Liam Berti

Liam Berti is a University of Ottawa journalism graduate who has since worked for BayToday as the City Council and North Bay Battalion reporter.
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