Kincardine hit with extra costs for Huron Terrace bridge project
By Liz Dadson

 

Kincardine Council

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The reconstruction of the Huron Terrace bridge in Ward 1 has come in over-budget by $264,000.

However, Kincardine council has approved the tender to Owen King Limited, as recommended by Bruce County which is doing the majority of the $3.8-million project.

Kincardine is on the hook for 40 per cent of the overall cost of the road and bridge work, plus 100 per cent of the cost for sanitary sewer and watermain work. The original budget for Kincardine was $1.276 million, while the actual figure is $1.54 million.

Public works manager Jim O'Rourke told council in committee-of-the-whole April 15, that the cost for Kincardine's share of the road and bridge work was within budget, but the sewer and water costs came in over-budget, to the tune of $264,781.17. That money will come from reserves and will not affect the tax rate, he said.

"So, who did the original estimate?" asked councillor Guy Anderson.
O'Rourke said the municipal engineer, B.M. Ross and Associates, came up with those figures, but they are a year old. Also, because of the increase in government funding for infrastructure projects, that industry is busy and prices have increased, he said.

"Concrete prices have gone up," said deputy mayor Laura Haight. "That's what happens when the demand goes up and the supply goes down, the prices go up." She said it will be interesting to see what happens with equipment costs at the next public works committee meeting.

 

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22/04/2009 07:11 PM

 "I guess it's a stimulus to the local economy," said Anderson.

When questioned about specific costs for the bridge project, O'Rourke said the total tender for Owen King Limited is $3.4 million, plus additional expenses, such as engineering at $140,000, miscellaneous county expenses at $30,000 (such as advertising and Westario Power work), county contingency fund of $50,000, expected engineering and administration costs of $260,000, and the county's cost for the Environmental Assessment of $30,000. The total cost for the project is $3,851,952.93, with Kincardine paying a total of $1,540,781.17.

In council session later in the meeting, the tender was approved, along with pre-budget approval for the amendment to cover the additional cost.

The bridge is scheduled to be closed, starting in May and running through to next year.
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