The Dracup Avenue Project previously approved by Council in its 2014 budget has taken on a decidedly larger scope following a decision by Council at its regular meeting Monday.
The tender for the initial project was approved at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council April 14, a tender for work on the Dracup Avenue Channel Upgrade Project was unanimously approved.
The base work tender for the project was awarded to G. Ungar Construction Company in the amount of $2,243,950. Furthermore, Engineering Services was authorized to enter into a contract with G. Ungar Construction Company Ltd. for the Base Work of the Dracup Avenue Channel Upgrades Project.
G. Ungar Construction was the low bidder, among six tenders received.
The project will now be expanded to include replacing two segments of sanitation mains, one dating back to 1976, and the other back to a 1911 installation.
"It's one of the City's main sanitary trunks," offered Joshua Mickleborough, manager of the Engineering Department with the City.
Mickleborough said there are definite issues with the 1911 piping, noting they were studied via camera this spring 'with ratings severe and extreme along most of its length."
The work will encompass an area along Dracup, crossing York Road near Logan Stevens, and north to a major outlet.
The cost of the added work is estimated to be $195,000 for storm sewers, $2.26 million for sanitary lines, $466,000 for road work and miscellaneous costs of $418,000.
Mickleborough said it was the recommendation of City Administration the work be undertaken as a "change order" to the existing tender with Ungar Construction rather than taking it to a separate tender.
Under the recommendation the contract with Ungar would be expanded by nearly $3 million, with the curb and paving work taken to a new tender.
Mickleborough said the added work will require "digging up the roads," with York Road likely to be closed for at least two to three weeks, and Dracup "closed to local traffic."
Councillor James Wilson questioned whether it would not have been "prudent to take the whole project back out to tender."
Mickleborough said while a change order was not an ideal situation, there is a level "of cost-effectiveness," in as much as Ungar is already in place, and there should be some in-project management.
Ungar's initial project tender also had what Mickleborough termed fair unit rates.
I believe we'd be hard pressed to find better unit rates," he said.
But Council was still concerned.
"I'm concerned about a change order this size," said Coun. Chris Wyatt. " It's never been done before in my time."
Mayor Bob Maloney said ultimately the work is something "we have to do at some point."
Maloney asked what would happen if the sewer line were to collapse?
"Things would probably very quickly back-up and create issues for residents," said Mickleborough.
Wyatt said that was the reason he would support the project.
"If the poop stops there and backs up into the city, we're all in trouble," he said.
Council would approve the "change order" approach to the work.
The base price in the originally tendered project in April included storm water mains, water mains, sanitary sewer mains, drainage channel, roadway construction and miscellaneous items.
The work consists of channel widening, new culverts, piping and connecting the channel to the existing ponds. This will increase storm water conveyance and storage capacity. As well, a 12" water line is being installed connecting the existing 10" and 12" lines on Darlington and York, strengthening the existing system and servicing the new institutional land along Dracup Avenue North.
