CANMORE – A major utility project to install a water main between the Three Sisters Parkway and Bow Valley Trail will be completed in sections after the all bids for the tender came in over the $4.5 million approved capital budget.
Council voted in July to reduce the scope of the project to just one section for a revised cost of $3.6 million to be funded through $680,000 in off-site levies and debt financing.
"The idea is that we are asking to reduce the scope and do a portion of the project," said manager of public works Andreas Comeau. "This project was first identified in the utility master plan in 1998."
Comeau said the water main, which as originally approved would connect the parkway to Bow Valley Trail through the wastewater treatment plan, would help improve water security and redundancy in the system and improve fire flows within a commercial zone.
As well, and more recently, Canmore council approved moving forward with an organic food waste diversion program for residents and businesses.
"There was a requirement due to the size of the [waste management centre] building to put in a sprinkler system," Comeau said, adding that required access to potable water, which this project provides.
The south section comes from the parkway across the tipple mine site and under the river to the treatment plant. Comeau said there are significant challenges along that section due to the elevation change. It would require a pressure reducing valve, he said, for example.
"We also needed to cross the tipple mine site, which the Town does not own, that is actually owned by Three Sisters," Comeau said. "We needed to enter into a utility right of way with them to allow this alignment to occur."
Comeau said it is a complicated, challenging and necessary project. However, two bid processes this year saw all submissions exceed the approved budget.
"It was deemed there was an opportunity to reduce the scope and the budget itself and simply move forward with the south section [and tie in to the wastewater treatment plant]," he said. "The idea is administration would look to come back likely in 2021 to complete the balance of the project."
The balance of the project is estimated to cost $2.8 million at this time.
Mayor John Borrowman expressed concerns about the fact that major utility projects proposed and approved in the capital budget each year are routinely brought back to council due to cost overruns or tenders being above the approved budget.
"I don't know how we are ever going to get off this roller coaster," said the mayor. "These big projects keep coming in over estimation – it is frustrating."
"I am not trying to assign fault or blame. It is just that it makes it really difficult for all municipalities to do extensive capital project planning."
