Guelph-Eramosa council has decided to resurface the 3rd Line with hot mix asphalt, a one-year project, rather than the two-year pulverizing and double surface treatment originally planned.
On June 25 public works director Harry Niemi presented tender results to resurface the 3rd Line between Highway 7 and Wellington Road 124.
Duncor bid a total of $349,058 over two years and MSO bid $375,290 over two years. The budget was about $580,000 for two years.
After the call for tenders was announced, Niemi said he received “unsolicited” advice to instead place hot mix asphalt on the road.
“That was reviewed in concert, again unsolicited, but reviewed in concert with the double surface treat review and pricing was found to be, shall I say, extremely competitive,” Niemi said.
“Such that it forced me to have a closer look at the approach on this road.”
Hot mix asphalt would extend the life of the road.
Double surface treatment usually lasts between seven and 10 years depending on traffic, whereas the hot mix asphalt can last up to 18 years before replacement is necessary, Niemi explained.
Due to possible legal action, council authorized the public works department to cancel the tender for double surface treatment and re-tender for hot mix asphalt, rather than accepting the unsolicited offer for the better quality asphalt.
“In terms of procurement standpoint, even though a particular contractor may have taken a flier and said ‘I can do it,’ that opportunity wasn’t presented to other paving contractors,” Niemi explained.
“So there is a potential to be an issue, there could be challenges. So I think the cleaner approach is to level the playing field and [give] every contractor [the] opportunity to bid on it.”
On July 16 Niemi brought the new tender results to the council meeting at Parkwood Gardens Community Church in Guelph.
Five companies bid for the hot mix asphalt resurfacing of the 3rd Line between Highway 7 and Wellington Road 124.
Council awarded the tender to Cox Construction Limited for $328,265, including HST.
In addition to the road work, Niemi said an open box culvert in the north half of the construction area will also be waterproofed in advance of the resurfacing.
The project is set to begin in mid-August and conclude at the end of September.
The other bidders were:
– Coco Paving Inc. for $353,843;
– Capital Paving Inc., $366,016;
– Steed and Evans Limited, $395,724; and
– The Murray Group Limited, $415,773.
