Work will continue on Dracup Avenue through the work season of 2016, and on into 2017.
That was part of the message Yorkton Council heard at its regular meeting Monday.
Dracup Avenue is home to some of the City鈥檚 largest underground infrastructure. Replacement of this corridor鈥檚 aging infrastructure began in 2014 and will continue until 2017 before this project is complete, explained Trent Mandzuk Director of Public Works with the City.
鈥淭he project has been divided into 3 sections for construction staging purposes. These sections are identified as Dracup North (Darlington Street to York Road), Dracup Round-a-bout (intersection of Dracup Avenue and Darlington Street) and Dracup 麻豆视频 (Darlington Street to Broadway Street),鈥� he explained.
As a means of background a summary of the project to-date was circulated to Council.
鈥淥n July 13, Council approved an extension of the Acadia Paving Ltd. Highway #10 Reconstruction contract to include roadway surface improvements on Dracup Avenue North ($2,184,000), a round-a-bout at the Dracup/Darlington intersection ($966,000) and Dracup Avenue 麻豆视频 ($1,752,400) for a total cost of $4,902,400,鈥� detailed the summary.
鈥淔unding was also approved in 2016 capital budget for the replacement of underground infrastructure works on Dracup North ($2,212,500) and Dracup 麻豆视频 ($4,225,000) for a total of $6,437,500. The north section鈥檚 undergrounds were to be completed by City forces and a report to council would be required prior to work commencing on Dracup 麻豆视频.鈥�
Mandzuk said City crews are not able to do the work as expected.
鈥淐ity forces are not equipped to carry out the scope of work involved in installing the undergrounds along Dracup 麻豆视频,鈥� he said.
It was then decided to tender the Dracup 麻豆视频 work.
However, Mandzuk said they went about that process differently this time, requesting a pre-qualification process before accepting tenders. The pre-qualification was employed to identify contractors qualified to complete the project.
鈥淭his process allows the Owner to manage the risks associated with the open tender process,鈥� said Mandzuk, adding the Owner in this case in the City.
鈥淭he Owner, through predetermined criteria, eliminates candidates who do not demonstrate the necessary technical expertise, managerial ability, financial capacity, project success rates and relevant experience for the project at hand.
鈥淔urther, this process significantly reduces problems associated with low bidders of doubtful capacity.鈥�
Mandzuk said another initiative was also undertaken prior to the tender process in an attempt to control costs.
In addition to implementing the prequalification process for this project, the City鈥檚 capital project team was closely involved in the design process with Integrated Engineering. Together, the team identified and investigated the following design considerations to be utilized upon construction providing considerable cost savings to the project, he explained.
As an example of the savings achieved; 鈥淭raffic studies identified a total of four lanes for Dracup 麻豆视频. Following a closer review of the traffic impact analysis conducted in 2015, the number of lanes was reduced to three (one southbound and two northbound). To properly address future traffic flow requirements without incurring the expense of the third lane, two lanes (one southbound and one northbound) will be constructed in 2016 with a design allowance for the third lane (northbound) to be constructed at a later date,鈥� detailed the summary to council.
The decision was a $350,000 cost saving to the initial project cost.
A similar saving was realized by undertaking a 鈥淐ondition assessment of existing underground infrastructure: Utilizing the 1200mm concrete storm line between Broadway and Smith Street eliminated removal/decommissioning costs and the need for additional piping requirements to convey runoff between Broadway and Smith Street.鈥�
In total $1,220,000 was saved from the project, said Mandzuk.
Also to avoid future change orders towards the project, items not included in the contract and a contingency were identified with a cost to be included in the total budget, said Mandzuk. The costs included budgeting $255,000 for utility agencies services (SaskPower, SaskEnergy, etc.), $50,000 for tipping fees to dispose of concrete at the landfill, and $70,000 for crushed gravel.
The total costs outside the contract were pegged at $454,500.
After the long process a total of eight applicants submitted pre-qualification packages for Dracup 麻豆视频鈥檚 underground utility upgrades. Three contractors successfully qualified and were invited to bid the project.
The lowest of the tenders was from Ungar Construction at $2,821,850.
However, when additional costs, such as 10 per cent management fee, 10 per cent contingency, and the aforementioned inters outside the contract are factored in, the total cost is projected to be $3,983,350, which falls under the budgeted amount of $4,225,000.
Council was unanimous is supporting the awarding of the tender contract to Ungar Construction as outlined.
