Council defers infrastructure project to 2016

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

A preliminary engineering investigation on 2nd Street, an overlay project that was originally bundled with the Lakeside Blvd. and 4th Ave. reconstruction projects, raised numerous concerns among town staff and required town council to consider carrying the project over into next year.
Seven months ago, town council agreed to a $3 million agreement that included the construction on Lakeside Blvd., 4th Ave., and 2nd Street with Goldstar Trucking. All three projects were included in the tender, although the 2nd Street overlay project was added as a provisional item.
Upon the early stages of construction on Lakeside Blvd., Associated Engineering’s investigation on 2nd Street revealed issues surrounding drainage and the base structure that experts were unable to ignore.
“Early on in the execution of the contract we made a decision to not include this section in the schedule for construction in this current year,” said Strathmore’s Director of Engineering Gord Elenko. “Although we got a great tender price for the scope of work that we provided, I believe that there were some omissions within the scope that would considerably increase the cost or decrease the overall solution.”
The decision to postpone the project, which was made on June 17, was based on possible scope changes, time needed to complete the other road projects, and shortened longevity of the proposed pavement design that was tendered.
On Oct. 7, Elenko addressed local officials about the issues that are expected to shorten the longevity of the pavement surface overlay as designed and tendered.
By requesting council to carry the project over into the 2016 budget, further investigation of the drainage, road base, and underground infrastructure can be completed before finalizing the scope of work. Upon meeting finalization, town staff expects it will allow for the project to be tendered in projects approved for 2016.
Town council unanimously approved the staff recommendation to carry over the 2nd Street surface overlay project to 2016, with the existing budget of $550,000, so that further investigation of the road base, drainage, and underground infrastructure be completed before finalizing the scope of work and tender for completion in 2016.