Road costs rise dramatically

When proposed costs for planned road construction in Cramahe skyrocketed, Director of Public Works, Barry Thrasher decided it was time for Council to take a look at the numbers.

At a special meeting on August 31 he brought forward proposed costs for three road jobs, and they were all well over the costs that Council anticipated when it approved them earlier this year. The director feels the increased costs are due to the demands being made on resources by the public works programs across the province.

The work on Purdy Rd. leading to the industrial park is expected to cost about $479,000. It was budgeted at $345,000. The township planned to use $315,000 from gas tax money granted to the municipality by the province, and $30,000 from road reserves.

Council spent little time on this one, acknowledging that the road must be able to take full loads year round.

The township budgeted $300,000 for paving and infrastructure work on Parliament St. The work there was to include roadwork,curbs and gutters, installation of new larger watermains, and storm sewers. Preliminary construction cost estimates put the cost at $645,715.

In the township's plans $149,000 would be taken from gas tax money and ther remaining $151,000 from taxes.

Durham Street paving and watermain work cost estimates were similarly over budget. The township is repaving the section between King St. and Scott St. If everything that was requested was included in the project the total cost would be $820,234. When the township applied for the grant money for the job it estimated the Durham Street work would cost $350,000. A second proposal was put forward leaving curbs and gutters out of the project. That brought the job to a more manageable $605,505, of which the township will receive a maximum of $233,200 in Infrastructure Stimulus funding.

Any excess costs would have to be taken from roads reserves. Mr. Thrasher came to Council looking for direction. He suggested two options - continue as planned, or to drop the curbs and gutters and storm sewers.

Mayor Marc Coombs proposed that the respondents to tenders for the two residential projects be asked to provide quotes for roadwork with and without curbs and gutters. On Durham Street that would drop the price by almost $150,000. It was less clear from the information provided how much could be saved on the Parliament St. project.

A suggestion by Councillor Pat Westrope to carry the costs over two years found no takers on Council. Mayor Coombs was the first to speak directly to her comment. He felt the money is ultimately coming out of the same pot. Later in the discussion Councillor Ed Van Egmond wondered aloud about the viability of doing all but the paving this year, but was advised by the Public Works Director that it was not a good idea.

Ms. Westrope felt the removal of storm sewers from the Parliament St. job failed to address water issues. The councillor also offered that curbs and gutters are more aesthetically pleasing.

If the curbs and gutters are not installed then sump pumps along the road which feed into the village's sanitary sewers will continue to do so. Runoff from the roads will drain into creeks which run under them.

Mr. Thrasher added another element into the decision, commenting that curbs and gutters would affect the width of the road and make it difficult for some oncoming vehicles to pass.

Watermains on both roads are substandard and must be replaced.

Mr. Thrasher hopes to have the tenders in and available for Council to make a decision at its regular September 15 meeting. At that time the township hopes to hold a public meeting to discuss the options.