Lakeside Blvd reconstruction granted

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Construction is scheduled to begin right away on Lakeside Blvd after council awarded the contract to Gold Star Trucking Ltd on March 18.
“This year in 2015 we also added to the Lakeside Blvd reconstruction, a 4th Ave. reconstruction, and a 2nd St. overlay program. The projects will consist of replacement of approximately 1,300 metres of water mains, hydrants and valves, replacement of sanitary sewer on 4th Avenue and Lakeside as well, installation of 250 metres of new storm line,” said Bryce Mackan, project coordinator for the Town of Strathmore, spoke on behalf of the engineering department.
“There’s also some concrete, curb and gutter, sidewalks to be repaired and or replaced in the project and miscellaneous items that come up during construction as they always do.”
The tender is specified in two stages. The Lakeside Blvd work is to start as soon as possible after awarded and to be completed by July 13 in hopes that it will be done before Strathmore 2015 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games and the Strathmore Stampede.
The work on 4th Ave. and 2nd St. is to begin after Aug. 3 and be completed by Sept. 30.
There were 11 bids received which were reviewed by Associated Engineering, who then returned a letter of recommendation.
“In Associated’s letter they recommend that if the town awards to Gold Star that we consider an increase to field presence to monitor and inspect the field activities more often than previously scheduled,” said Mackan.
Councillor Pat Fule questioned why it was mentioned to monitor and inspect more often.
“Associated told us they (Gold Star) are new to them, new to Associated, and that the background checks on the personnel provided were adequate. So because of the lack of experience shown by the underground contractor, and the difference in site occupancy days and crew size, that is why they are recommending extra (monitoring),” said Mackan.
The second lowest tender came in from North Star Contracting, who did the work on Thomas Drive, and the service road in front of Dairy Queen. Their bid was over $3.7 million.
Mackan did state that Thomas Drive met with some underground water conditions at the time of construction and that could be cause for some of the problems. Without the top lift the water was left to soak into the base lift. The contractor is to come in and repair any base work damage and then put on the top lift, which prevents the water from going down into that basin.
The reconstruction of Lakeside Blvd was first presented to council in May of 2014. At that time the four tenders ranged from $2,615,660.75 to $3,054,709.92.
Council decided to postpone the project in hopes of getting a better price. The newly awarded project comes in at $3,189,058.07 plus GST, but also includes the work to be completed on 4th Ave. and 2nd St.
While concerns were raised about the work done on Thomas Drive, the last major road project, were brought up, council determined in the end to award the contract to Gold Star.