Southern spine project could be extended

Original budget, before provincial funding, covered one kilometre of Water Street

The only bid on Phase 1 of Miramichi’s active transportation southern spine project, between Kelly Road and 1386 Water St., was nearly $210,000 under budget, prompting a discussion at council about extending the project. (SCREENSHOT)

MIRAMICHI • The first phase of an active transportation project on the city’s south side could soon be extended after the only bid was nearly $210,000 under budget.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city council unanimously awarded a contract worth $340,106.75, taxes in, to local firm North Shore Construction for Phase 1 of the southern spine route.

North Shore was the only bidder on the project and came in $209,893.25 under the budgeted amount of $550,000. The engineer’s estimate was $438,006.25.

In a report presented to council, project engineer Jeff Manderville said the first phase includes an asphalt shoulder widening along Water Street’s southern shoulder, between Kelly Road and the existing sidewalk near 1386 Water St.

The city received $220,000, or 40 per cent of the project budget, from the provincial government’s Regional Development Corporation, prompting Mayor Adam Lordon to ask about council’s options for extending this year’s work.

“With previous tenders for active transportation work, we extended the work as far as the budget would allow,” he said. “I’m wondering why the same precedent wasn’t applied here.

“In the past, when we’ve tried to complete the northern and southern spines, when the bids come in under budget council usually allocates the extra funds to go further.”