The price tag for the Centennial Drive Area Improvements Project is going up - to the tune of more than 30%.
On Monday, city councillors voted in favour of increasing the original $695,000 budget by $236,000, bringing the total cost of the multi-year project to $930,000. The decision must be ratified at Monday’s city council meeting.
There are many reasons for the increased costs, noted Stan Martinello, a project engineer.
He explained to city politicians that “extra geo-technical work” added about $79,000 to the price tag, while $46,000 was added when it was learned three stormwater quality control structures were needed in the area.
On top of that, the controversial location of the proposed pump station also led to an appeal, which forced the city to fork out $67,500 in related, unexpected costs.
“In August 2019, an appeal was made to the province about the location of the proposed pump station,” said Martinello.
The province “finally responded” in April, he said.
“Having that appeal completed allowed us to assess the project, where it’s at, financially ... and exactly what is required to bring it to completion.”
He said the increased budget is needed to cover the costs of the “management of the appeal, the relatively large stormwater management structures identified by the study initiated after the Centennial Drive project began (and) some very recent exceedances found in the soil in bore hill drilling,” he said.
Finally, $45,000 will be needed to reconstruct Cedar Island Road. That money was not included in the original budget because the location of the pump station had not yet been determined at that time.
Martinello said it’s been determined the new pump station will be located on the east side of Cedar Island Road, approximately 120 metres south of Elgin Street.
A new sanitary sewer pressure forcemain from the pump station to the trunk sewer on Front Street South will be required.
The Elgin Street/Cedar Island Road area is currently serviced by a pump station at the Elgin Street/Scott Street intersection that is nearing the end of its service life.
The project will involve closing that pump station and re-directing flows to the new pump station. That will involve replacing the sanitary sewers on Elgin Street between Scott Street and Cedar Island Road.
“Installation of the sanitary sewers and the previously identified forcemain will result in enough disturbance to the road surface that the entire length of Elgin Street between Front Street and Cedar Island Road will have to be reconstructed,” notes a report to council.
The report also says a new T intersection at Elgin and Cedar Island Road would be considered.
“I would like to strongly encourage that T-intersection be created,” said Coun. Pat Hehn, noting a resident in the area reported many near accidents at the juncture.
She said its a “very cumbersome exchange right now.” She said now is the “logical time to create a standardized intersection there.”
Martinello agreed.
“This is definitely the time to at least very seriously consider design options for that intersection,” he said, saying he was not aware “of any impediments at this point that would make it impossible.
“But until we get into some more detailed design, I want to reserve my final judgement to see if it’s feasible,” he said. “I do believe it should be possible.”
Coun. Ted Emond said the project is also the ideal time to “redevelop the esplanade” that runs along the waterfront between the Legion and Cedar Island Road.
Martinello noted that is “not part of the scope” of the Centennial Drive project and explained the city must acquire some small plots of land before that can be contemplated.
“The actual redevelopment of the esplanade, creating a more eye-pleasing roadway .. that would be dependent on the development of adjacent properties,” Martinello explained.
The original scope of the Centennial Drive Area Improvements Project included the following major components:
- Realignment of the Centennial Drive/Canice Street corridor from Mississaga Street East to Brant Street East;
- Extension/reconstruction of Mississaga Street East, Coldwater Street and Colborne Street East between Front Street and the waterfront area;
- Reconstruction of Elgin Street from Front Street South to Scott Street; and
- Construction of a new sanitary sewer pump station.
The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) and design for the Centennial Drive project was initiated in 2016 and awarded to the Ainley Group (Ainley).
At that time, the intention was to have construction on the project commence in 2017. Subsequently, Council chose to proceed with the Front Street reconstruction project first to allow for removal of the trunk sanitary sewer in the Centennial Drive area.
