‘Astonishing’ bill to repair small bridge reflective of limited resources, skyrocking costs

Council will use unallocated Canada Community Building Fund money to pay for the over-budget costs to rehabilitate the single span bridge on County Road 4.

With increased costs for all projects coming before council lately, councillor John Hirsch noted he was pleased staff was wise to recommend getting tenders out early to enable multiple bids, but noted he was “absolutely astonished that it costs a million dollars to replace an overgrown culvert on County Road 4.”

Earlier this month, a $5,309,000 revised reconstruction of Picton Main Street was changed into two projects to help it move forward after two over-budget delays.

County CAO Marcia Wallace noted the issue not unique to Prince Edward County.

“In conversations with CAOs across the area, as well as in recent reports from groups that track indicators for residential, commercial and industrial development, “we are seeing skyrocketing numbers – in the neighbourhood of 120 per cent increases in the price of steel, some components and labour.”

She noted County project manager Joe Angelo has spoken to that in several recent projects and added that “any degree of complexity, any delays in our ability to get moving, anything that requires a short turn-around, or when we’re in direct competition with our neighbours for limited resources, becomes an issue.”

She also commended staff efforts to find ways to move capital projects forward despite the challenges.

“The experts say we can expect this to continue at least for the next year. And best advice to most municipal governments for the incoming term is to look at your capital budgets from a risk perspective and prioritize our spending.” She noted the coming asset management plan will help do that.

Built in 1968, the deck concrete slabs of the bridge have deteriorated and the guide rails do not meet provincial standards. The work is expected to extend the life of the structure by 25 years before further repairs are required.

The $944,639 tender from A2Z Civil was the the lowest but an additional $470,000 was needed from the Canada Community Building Fund to cover design costs incurred to date, contract administration, project management and contingency costs. That fund had an unallocated surplus of $712,801.

The project includes removal and replacement of the existing concrete deck, waterproofing, asphalt overlay, guiderail replacement and other ancillary concrete repairs.

During construction, expected to take just over three months, the project will include closure of County Road 4 to through traffic between Highway 62 and Doxsee Road. Traffic will be detoured along Doxsee Road and Jericho Road. Through traffic destined to and from Picton will have the option to use Highway 62 and County Road 1 as an alternate route during the bridge construction.