$4.4M tender for lights, sidewalk, water/sewer upgrades at Picton Heights area

A sidewalk with street lights and improved watermains at Picton Heights could come with approval of a $4.4M tender to Drew Harrison Haulage.

Council, at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, heard a report from the Development Services Department outlining the use of funds allocated in the capital budget.

The municipality secured $995,391 in federal funding to be used toward the project from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, in the summer of 2017. The project would include 1.2km of new watermain from Union Street to the Picton Heights reservoir; extension of the existing sanitary sewer; storm sewer upgrades and replacement of the watermain on Old Church Street as well as concrete curb, gutter and asphalt pavement there.

It also includes construction of a new 1km concrete sidewalk with street lighting connecting the London Avenue sidewalk to the sidewalk along the frontage of Macaulay Heritage Park. It would include two new pedestrian crosswalks with signals.

The project was tendered in 2018 but received one bid over budget. The current tender is similar but upsizing of the existing watermain on Union Street has been removed.

Four tenders were received. Harrison’s was the lowest. The highest came in at $7.9 million.

Some residents of Macaulay Village attended council in November to express concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety in the area.

“We feel that our community’s safety, dignity, respect and accessibility are at jeopardy without adequate sidewalks, lighting, signage or speed limits going up the hill,” the group’s deputation stated.

Macaulay Village is home to 165 single and semi-detached lots, 90 townhouse units, 15 seniors apartments as well as parkland and future development.

“It is also a low-income community. If you’ve been in this community, you have met someone who is at risk, or fears for their safety…. As recently as last April, an 11-year-old boy was struck by a motorcycle.”

Any decisions by council would be made at its next regular meeting.