By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council has approved additional work on the Northside Road upgrading project a cost of $169,900 plus HST.
Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien said the work will include more guardrails, repaving, drainage improvements, and more.
Council approved the expenditure at its May meeting.
Councillor Ethan Williams said the extra cost is money well spent.
“This is good work that we’re doing,” said Williams. “We’re spending the extra money to make sure the road holds over the next couple of decades, especially given the state of the erosion along that north side there. We’re making sure the work that we do is sustainable moving forward.”
The project, initially valued at $1,840,875, is cost shared between all three levels of government, with the Town only on the hook for about 10 percent (up to $184,088.) Council awarded the original contract to lowest compliant bidder Dexter Construction Company Limited for a total cost of $1,555,685, plus HST, which was less than the initial project estimate, back in November.
Council approved two change orders to the project in March. The first was for installation of additional culvert and rockfill at a cost of $6,885, plus HST. The second was to increase the area of the retaining wall installation to match the supplier’s pre-cut paneling. This move increased the area by 65.2 square metres for a cost of $63,244 plus HST.
As the construction tender came in underbudget, the change orders are being absorbed by surplus funding.
Work began on the project in April.
