The scope of one local sewer project in the city has increased dramatically. Initially planned to be storm system improvements near York Road, the project has now been expanded to include a new sewer trunk line on Dracup. This means a substantial increase in budget which was approved at a recent meeting of city council.
The change order to G. Ungar Construction will be $2,989,175, the bulk of which will be made up of a new sanitary sewer trunk line on Dracup Ave. This line will replace a line from 1911 which has significant structural problems. The proposed replacement of this line was pushed up due to the condition as revealed when the line was inspected by camera, revealing severe structural defects, a collapse and a sag in the line. It will be replaced by a 1200 mm trunk line that will run along Dracup. Other work that is necessary is expanded storm sewer work near York Road, where damage has caused sinkholes.
Josh Mickleborough, manager of Engineering Services says that the bid received from G. Unger Construction was competitive, and since the company is holding the unit rates from the previous work and those rates are cost effective, the recommendation was to go with a change order on the project. It also means the city would not have to worry about mobilization costs which would be estimated at $200,000.
While the change order was passed due to the urgency of the project, city councillors were not pleased to approve it and were upset with the way the tendering process was handled. Councillor James Wilson questioned whether it might be practical to re-tender the project given the significant increase in the scope of the project.
Mickleborough says that since the city has a contractual obligation to honor the original work order the project can't be completely re-tendered, and the unit rates are cost effective.
"In the future, it would be more prudent if we captured this as a bigger project in general... Work every day with contractors, they love change orders."
Councillor Chris Wyatt is disappointed to see such a substantial increase in the scope of the project through the change order, and felt it was unprecedented.
"This has never been done in my time, a change order of this magnitude."
Wyatt says that given the amount of engineering work and needs assessments that the city has been doing a situation should not be happening, and given the amount spent the priorities for the city should be known and the initial tenders should reflect the necessary scope.
"I expected more so that you don't have a surprise like this on a project of this size. I hope council shares that frustration because when you spend that money you expect stuff like this not to happen, because you're planning ahead."
The project was approved, however, because it was simply necessary. The reason behind the approval, in spite of the misgivings of council, was best explained by councillor Larry Pearen.
"If you flush your toilet and it doesn't go away, that's a problem for all of us."
