Photo by B. Shakyaver
On September 3rd, Bluewater Council gave the green light for the Colina Street Embankment Protection project. The contract has been awarded to Birnam Excavating Ltd., which won with a bid of $173,864.82, excluding HST.
This project aims to protect the embankment along Colina Street and ensure the area remains safe and stable. The tender process saw five bids, and Birnam Excavating Ltd. provided the lowest and most competitive offer.
During council discussions, Councilor Bill Whetstone mentioned he had a concern.
To finance the project, Council approved adjustments to the budget. They will reduce the 2024 Roads Operating Contracted Services budget by $54,000 and increase the Roads Paving & Construction Reserve by the same amount. This reserve will then cover the additional costs needed to complete the project.
In April 2024, Council reviewed the initial bids and decided to reject the higher bid from Murray Mills Excavating & Trucking. They also directed staff to explore alternative access options for the project. After consulting with the Pioneer Park Association and other relevant bodies, permission was granted to use Pioneer Park for equipment staging and site access.
Manager of Public Works, Dave Kester, said there is one thing they are not willing to sacrifice when it comes to a project like this.
The updated tender included these new conditions, and the successful bid from Birnam Excavating Ltd. was confirmed. The project, which was originally budgeted with $142,147 from 2023, will require an additional $53,715 due to the higher-than-expected costs.news10 Moved File from Markets\Exeter\Holding to Markets\Exeter\Daily Stories @ 09/17/24 04:07 PM
