An intersection repaving project approved in the 2021 budget is being deferred by to 2022 due to spiralling costs.
The project was the repaving of the intersection of Highway 4 North and Territorial Drive. It had been included in the City of North Battleford鈥檚 paving contract budget, with an initial cost of the work estimated at $40,000.
But Director of City Operations Stewart Schafer explained at North Battleford council on Monday that the costs kept on increasing.
At the beginning of 2021, the estimate jumped up to $80,000 after it was noted by administration that a larger area needed to be resurfaced.
A tender package was assembled and advertised, and K & S Asphalt Services was the winning bidder. By this point, the cost of the project had climbed even higher to $106,000, based on an area of 3,000 square metres.
According to Schafer鈥檚 memo to council, the breaking point came in early June when the city鈥檚 Roadway Supervisor inspected the site along with representatives from K & S.
It was found the contractor would need to mill more of the intersection, and further out as well. The proposed work now covered an area of 4,500 square metres for a cost of $160,000 plus tax.
It was at this point, Schafer told council, that the city said, 鈥渨ell, we鈥檇 better stop here - we don鈥檛 have the money for all this extra milling you are requesting.鈥� They decided to bring it forward to council with two options: one to go ahead with the work this year at a higher cost, or to postpone it to 2022.
Council agreed with Schafer鈥檚 recommendation to postpone the intersection project and have it budgeted for 2022. The city can potentially apply for funding through the Urban Highway Connector Program for 25 per cent of the total cost.
As for the funds budgeted for 2021, those will be reallocated to address some of the other pavement issues seen in the city. Administration is looking to repair a larger number of frost boils than expected that developed over the winter months.
