THUNDER BAY – The COVID-19 pandemic has ground much construction to a halt, but projects deemed essential by the province – such as work on roads, bridges, and dams – can continue. That will include millions of dollars’ worth of work on Thunder Bay roads, sewers, and watermains.
Council awarded four contracts worth over $15 million at Monday’s meeting.
Bruno’s Contracting was awarded a road work contract with a bid of $4.75 million, over $65,000 lower than the nearest bid and more than $130,000 lower than the city’s pre-tender estimate.
The work includes asphalt rehabilitation on sections of Centennial Park Road, Dawson Road, Hazelwood Drive, Margaret Street, and River Street. It also includes resurfacing on residential roads: Dewe Street, Frankwood Avenue, Hall Place, Helen Street, Hilldale Place, Michigan Street, Ray Boulevard, Van Guard Avenue, Vickers Street North, and Walkover Street.
The contract will also see the expansion of the parking lot at the 55 Plus Centre and resurfacing of the West Tennis Court located at the Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre in Chapples Park.
A second road work contract awarded to Taranis Contracting Group is worth around $2.55 million. Taranis came in nearly $100,000 lower than the closest bid, though more than $150,000 higher than the city’s pre-tender estimate.
The contract includes reconstruction of a section of Mount Forest Boulevard, from 20th Sideroad to Hawkridge Drive, and rehabilitation on sections of James and Kingston Streets.
Tupper and Amelia Streets will be reconstructed under a contract with Nadin Construction worth around $3.67 million. The company’s bid came in only about $20,000 lower than the next closest, from Makkinga Contracting, and more than $200,000 above the city’s pre-tender estimate.
The work includes road, watermain, and sanitary and storm sewer replacement on Tupper Street between Prospect Street and Jean Street, on Amelia Street between Edward Street and Ford Street, and the installation of a trunk sanitary sewer extension on Burwood Road between Innovation Drive and Central Avenue.
New watermain and storm/sanitary sewer construction will take place along Syndicate Avenue and Brodie Street. That contract was awarded to Makkinga Contracting for around $4.44 million, over $100,000 lower than the next closest bid but nearly half a million dollars more expensive than the city’s pre-tender estimate.
The work will also include parts of Dease and McKellar Streets and Southern Avenue, while cross streets Bethune and Cameron will be resurfaced. The city says the replacement of the watermain will eliminate a number of lead service connections within the road allowance.
