The City of Prince Rupert awarded a tender for the first stage of the Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project.
The city’s engineering department conducted an open tender process for the first phase of the project, with Adventure Paving providing the lowest and preferred tender bid.
The restoration of Fraser Street has been at the top of the city’s list of capital projects for a number of years, with the first phase of the project set to begin sometime in June.
“Fraser Street’s road surface, road base, sidewalks, curbs and gutters are all designated as being in poor condition. The utilities have been fully depreciated for many years and are well past any reasonable life expectancy. The sewer on Fraser Street is rated as the poorest condition of any in town,” said Richard Pucci, the city’s engineering coordinator.
The complete update of Fraser Street will be done in two sections, with construction starting on the end of the road closest to Northwest Community College.
“The Phase 1 work is … from the 6th Street intersection at the lane into Grenville Court all the way to in front of the enrichment society building,” Pucci told members of council last week.
Adventure Paving submitted a bid for $1,185,228.56, which is $80,000 more than the city’s allocated budget of $1,105,000 for the first part of the rehabilitation project.
To cover the shortfall, the city’s engineering department, in consultation with the finance department, recommended the shortage be funded through the city’s gas tax reserve. Because the project is being paid for entirely through the city’s gas tax fund, the overage wouldn’t affect the municipality’s 2015 budget.
“Currently we have a substantial gas tax fund. It’s about $3 million and we will be receiving approximately another half a million dollars this year,” explained Corinne Bomben, Prince Rupert’s chief financial officer.
During construction, the Salvation Army and Prince Rupert Seniors Centre will not be accessible by vehicle.
Pucci said the estimated completion date of Phase 1 of the Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project is Sept. 1, 2015.
“We anticipate the Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project will take two construction seasons or two phases, however this is budget dependent,” said Pucci, noting, if next year’s budget allows, Phase 2 will begin in the next construction season.
