Cost of mini-home park infrastructure overhaul doubles

City engineer cites mathematical error, higher-than-expected material costs

Phase 2 of the city’s ongoing infrastructure upgrades in the Kerr mini-home park came in $600,000 over budget. (GOOGLE STREET VIEW PHOTO)

---

MIRAMICHI - The city’s engineer is citing a mathematical error and higher-than-projected material costs in the next phase of ongoing infrastructure upgrades in a Taintville mini-home park costing more than twice the original estimate.

During the July 8 council-in-committee meeting, engineering director Mark Buckingham said the estimated cost of overhauling the Kerr mini-home park’s infrastructure and stormwater drainage system was $550,000 for each of the first two phases, based on a consultant’s report from 2022.

While Phase 1 came in more than $113,000 under budget, Buckingham said, the detailed design process for Phase 2 revealed some errors in the previous budget and suggested the price tag for that aspect of the project would be $1.15 million.

“That’s significantly higher than the $550,000 we originally thought,” he said.

“We worked with our consultant and came up with three options to present to council.”