BARRHEAD - County of Barrhead councillors awarded a $348,000 contract to replace a large culvert to Plains Construction Canada near Misty Ridge Ski Hill at their April 15 meeting.
Infrastructure director Ken Hove said the culvert on Range Road 44 south of Township Road 621 was initially constructed in 1971 and has reached the end of its effective lifespan.
The existing structure consists of a 1,800-millimetre riveted corrugated steel pipe and is just over 34 metres long.
"It is below 28 per cent culvert crushing, so it is in danger of collapsing," Hove said.
He added that the municipality's engineering firm recommended replacing the culvert with a 2,000-millimetre riveted corrugated steel pipe culvert 46 metres long.
"It would be installed in about the same location as the old one on an 18-degree left-hand forward skew to keep alignment with the watercourse channel," Hove said, adding the new structure's estimated lifespan is over 50 years.
Hove noted that most of the funding for the project budget comes from the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP), with the balance coming from reserves.
The province created STIP to help municipalities solve their infrastructure deficit, boost the economy, and create jobs as part of its response to the coronavirus. The program allows municipalities to receive roughly 75 per cent of the funding for approved infrastructure projects.
Hove said once engineering costs of $89,000, along with a 10 per cent contingency fund of $34,807 and a $10,000 utility relocation fee, are factored in, the culvert replacement costs balloon to more than $484,000; the project will be over budget by $17,0000.
"But, it is anticipated that the site occupancy cost and contingency will come in lower than quoted," he said.
Hove said Plains Construction Canada, in their bid, stated it would take them 20 days to complete the job.
"If they go over that, they have to pay back $1,500 per day. For every day they beat the 20-day occupancy target, they receive an extra $1,500 per day bonus," he said.
However, Hove said it is doubtful that the municipality will need to use the entire contingency fund.
"I've never seen where we have had to use an entire contingency fund. They also have 'fish capture' as a deletable of $4.850, and because of the distances from the Athabasca River, I can't see why there would be a fish capture, so there are ways we can save money and come in under budget," he said.
Coun. Paul Properzi asked what happens budget-wise if the project is delayed due to weather.
"If it is raining and they are not working, it is not considered a site occupancy, and any overruns from that would not come from the contingency fund. They have to plan for something like that," Hove said.
The county received 11 bids for the project. Plains Construction Canada was the lowest bidder. The highest, from an Alberta-numbered company, was over $644,000.
Hove added that even though the municipality has no first-hand experience dealing with Plains Construction Canada, the county's engineering firm, MPA Engineering, believes the firm is up to the task.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
