Tantramar Town Engineer Jon Eppell
The fourth and final phase of Sackville’s Lorne Street flood control project has hit a financial snag that threatens to stop or delay construction of a new aboiteau that would discharge stormwater into the Tantramar River.
Town Engineer Jon Eppell told council today that the project is almost $790,000 over the $2.4 million budget that the provincial department of transportation and infrastructure (DTI) allotted for it last spring.
He said the lowest construction bid from the Fredericton company Caldwell & Ross came in at just over $2.8 million and that design and construction services from the engineering firm Englobe would add another $186,000 bringing the aboiteau’s total cost to just over $3 million plus HST.
“We are waiting to hear back from the province how they wish to proceed, whether they can find additional funding,” Eppell said, adding that he hoped to have more information to present at council’s next regular meeting on December 12th.
The town was hoping to have the new, double-gated aboiteau in place by March 31st as the final phase in a project that Sackville councillors authorized more than seven years ago.
The $13.8 million three phases of the Lorne Street project — cost-shared among all levels of government — involves an extensive network of pipes, ditches, control structures and ponds designed to gather, store and discharge flood water from major storms into the Tantramar River at low tide.
Eppell told council today that Phase III should be completed next month when the flood ponds in Phases II and III are connected via culverts, ditches and pipes installed, in a tricky operation, under the CN Rail tracks.
He said that even without a new aboiteau, the existing system and old aboiteau could still cope with major storms.
“Once we get retention pond three connected to retention pond two, yes we can handle a one-in-100 year storm,” he said.
Eppell added that if a storm were prolonged, the town could deploy its already-established portable pump system.
“So, it would just be a delay in discharging that water into the river system,” he said.
The newly built pond three in the Sackville industrial park behind the community gardens on Charles St.
$790,000 over budget .. wow.. that is a lot of money to spend on top of the already many millions they’ve burned through for the ponds so far … ponds .. imagine that..? Just about enough to build a great concrete skatepark project that would be enjoyed by many enthusiasts for years to come as well as attract active tourists of all ages to the Tantramar region – unfortunately my guess is the youth project still is not on the TO DO LIST in Pondville.. is anyone else concerned about the priorities of the Management yet? Tantramar Skate Park Project advocacy since 2013.. just sayin.