Town council has approved contract work for a pair of large-scale construction projects this year and Calgary's AIC Construction Ltd. has been awarded both.
With council's approval to award AIC the two contracts, which combined are worth almost $3 million – the company has now seized the work for three out of the four major construction projects planned this year in Innisfail.
At council's March 24 meeting, AIC was awarded the $2.675 million (including GST) contract to construct infrastructure for the new multi-million dollar Napoleon Meadows subdivision.
Craig Teal, the town's director of planning and operational services, said the contract for Napoleon Meadows was “highly competitive”, noting in his report to council 23 companies picked up copies of the tender process with five submitting bids.
“It has been a while since we have seen five major bids,” said Teal. “Going back to 2012 for the work on the first phase of Main Street, that was also competitive. We received three. We had pretty good interest from contractors and hopefully that helped hold down the prices for us.”
AIC was also awarded the $424,000 (including GST) contract for the replacement of the water and sanitary sewer lines in the lane south of 45th Street between 48 and 49 avenues.
On Feb. 24, town council approved an administration recommendation to give AIC the $2,261,235.17 contract for the third phase of the Downtown Revitalization Project. The entire three-phase project, which began in 2012, has a budget of about $8.5 million. AIC construction has been awarded the contract for all three phases.
In each of the tendering processes for all the contracts, AIC's bid was the lowest. Following the completion of the first two phases of the Downtown Revitalization Project, town officials said they were pleased with the quality of AIC's work, noting each project was completed on time and within budget.
The first work on the 12-acre Napoleon Meadows subdivision began and finished on March 24 with the clearing of trees from a small parcel of land, less than one acre, east of 60 Avenue, west of 56 Avenue and south of 50 Street.
Teal said infrastructure work at Napoleon Meadows will begin April 15 with the stripping of topsoil, the shaping of the property and the creation of a storm pond on the west side of 60 Avenue. He said that phase will take four to five weeks.
Teal said the construction of underground water, sewer and storm lines will begin May 15 followed by road construction work that will start June 15. It will include building a gravel base, as well as concrete curves, gutters and sidewalks.
By July 20, it's expected work crews will then put in shallow utilities at the site, including power, gas, telephone and cable lines. Teal said it is hoped road paving can begin at that time with all work completed by Aug. 30 when construction of homes is expected to start at the 42-lot subdivision.
While work is going on at Napoleon Meadows, AIC crews will also be adjusting their schedules for the third phase of the Downtown Revitalization Project, which is scheduled to begin in June, and the infrastructure project at the 45th Street lane.
“It is kind of like one crew would roll over from one project to the next,” said Teal of AIC's busy schedule.
He said a firm date for the start of the work at the 45th Street land has not yet been set but added it's expected to start no later than July 10.
Teal said the 16 to 20 property owners who are expected to face inconveniences during the two- to three-week work period will be notified about expected disruptions and detour routes. He said the town is currently examining homeowner vehicle parking options, which may include the usage of a town parking lot for residents impacted by the construction.
Meanwhile, town staff will be bringing a recommendation to council on April 14 for the awarding of a contract for the 42 Street construction project near the Innisfail Auction Market. The town has budgeted $460,000 for the work, the fourth major local construction project in 2014.
Teal said the project involves road surface work on about 230 metres of the street.
“AIC may not be putting a bid on that but some of the previous partners on Main Street may,” said Teal.
With the contract process for the four major construction projects nearly completed, Teal said it's shaping up to be a busy construction season for residents and businesses in 2014.
“I think for the travelling public the most notable one will be the third phase of Main Street. Not everyone drives by Napoleon Meadows,” he said, adding there may be some detours in the area. “When we get to 42 Street, our other significant east-to-west road, that will be closed for at least a two- to three-week period, which is relatively short compared to Main Street.
“We are trying to make sure those two things don't happen at the same time,” added Teal. “We are hoping to get 42 in and done by the end of May.”
