The cost of the Dracup Avenue Storm System in Yorkton has risen since the first study was carried out several years ago.
Fran Brimacombe, Manager of Engineering for the City of Yorkton explained at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday that a preliminary estimate from Bullee Consulting Engineers is now at $4.2 million.
"The proposed scope of work consisted of three storms ponds and a storm channel on Dracup Avenue," he said, adding, " This estimate reflects the incorporation of a walkway and landscaping along the storm channel and pond. It is possible to do some of the landscaping in future years to help reduce the price but this would likely only save between one to three per cent of the total construction costs."
The work would be phased, said Brimacombe.
"Bullee provided a preliminary estimate for the Darlington Street pond and channel (Phase I) earlier this year. The estimate to complete Phase I of the storm system upgrades was identified by Bullee as $1,170,000. The actual cost will likely vary from this estimate," he said.
The Phase I costs are also more than initially anticipated.
"The City committed $800,000 to Phase I in 2011 as part of a phased approach to complete this storm water system upgrade," said Brimacombe.
Brimacombe noted that in spite of the higher costs the project is deemed important.
"City staff considers this project as a long-term solution to flood related incidences in this area of the community," he said.
There is a possibility the project might be eligible for some provincial funding, said Brimacombe.
"Staff submitted an application to the Provincial Government's recently announced storm management program," he said. "Staff is hopeful the Province will recognize the strategic thinking of the community to deal with both short-and-long term storm management issues and provide funding for this entire project."
