Council will spend close to $2 million to resolve watermain breaks in an area of Fergus.
On March 26, Centre Wellington council approved a $1.91-million bid from J.G. Goetz Construction Limited for the reconstruction of James Street, Churchill Crescent and Edinburgh Avenue in Fergus.
The bid includes $150,000 for contingencies, but excludes HST.
The project includes the full road reconstruction of the following streets:
– Churchill Crescent, from Edinburgh Avenue to Edinburgh Avenue;
– Edinburgh Avenue from Churchill Crescent to Churchill Crescent; and
– James Street from Churchill Crescent to Forfar Street.
“The existing cast iron watermain within the project limits has experienced numerous watermain breaks in the past several years and has reached the end of its service life,” said corporate services managing director Dan Wilson.
Council was told there is groundwater infiltration and inflows into the sanitary sewer as a result of the system’s poor condition and historic connections to basement foundation drains.
Wilson stated the reconstruction, which will address these issues, includes new watermain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, road base, asphalt paving and sidewalks.
The project was identified in the township’s asset management plan (2016) as a high-priority reconstruction project.
Wilson noted the Goetz bid was the lowest of four received. He said as a whole, the project is approximately $20,600 under budget.
However, looking at specific components of the project and funding sources, Wilson said funding allocations are required, including a reallocation of about $14,106 of tax-supported funds from the Churchill Crescent/Edinburgh Avenue projects to the James Street portion.
He said $45,243 of tax-supported funds can be transferred back to the general capital reserve, as tax-supported costs are under 2018 budget allocations.
In addition, $92,673 is required from the water capital reserve to fund project overages for water-supported costs.
Wilson noted $68,056 of wastewater-supported funds can be transferred back to the wastewater capital reserve, as wastewater-supported costs are under budget.
Councillor Stephen Kitras asked about the timeframe for the project.
Infrastructure director Colin Baker said, “it is a significant capital construction project, but the intention is to have it substantially complete by mid-December.”
Kitras then asked if traffic will need to be rerouted for any length of time.
Baker said plans are to phase the project, working on only one side of Churchill Street at a time. “The contractor will be required to maintain access to the homes.”
Baker clarified that as with many construction projects, there may be a day or two where homeowners may not have access to their driveway.
“They would be given advance notice,” said Baker, adding that since the roads are for local traffic only, there would be no detours.
Council awarded the tender and the funding revised as per the corporate services report.
