A pedestrian crossing on Main Street in Erin will cost nearly double the projected budget.
Roads superintendent Greg Delfosse said council should still move forward with the project, covering the shortfall with funds from another project that came in well below budget.
In November, the town went to tender for construction of a pedestrian crossing and received several over-budget responses. Staff opted to cancel the tender and defer the project until the spring, stated Delfosse in his report.
The new tender, which went out in early spring, had minor changes to reduce traffic impacts and material costs, but the costs escalated and the number of responses decreased, he said.
Delfosse noted the “wave” of pedestrian crossings installed throughout Wellington County has shown “inconsistent” pricing. He said prices seem to have doubled since 2016.
The original budget for the project was $50,000. Only two bids were received and staff recommended accepting the lowest bid, from Serve Construction for $92,040.
Councillor Jeff Duncan called it a “lesson learned,” adding “this should have been installed sometime in the 90s – now we’re talking $100,000.”
Mayor Allan Alls said many business owners opposed the new cross over.
“It’s going to take up two parking spots on either side … and there is limited parking on the Main Street,” Alls said.
Duncan noted council spent over $100,000 to pave the MacMillan Park lot.
Councillor Matt Sammut added business owners should be encouraged to not park on Main Street.
“I think that’s a big problem. If all of them are parking on the Main Street, we’re taking parking away from potential (customers),” he said.
Council accepted the Serve Construction bid of $92,040, with the shortfall funded from unspent funds of the under-budget surface treatment contract.
Delfosse said construction will start in early June.
