AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
Parksville city council awarded the contract to upgrade about 800 metres of Highway 19A to Knappett Industries for $1,996,004 at Monday’s regular meeting.
The safety and infrastructure improvements between Rushton Avenue and Moilliet Street have been planned for years and became a higher priority due to traffic concerns around the new Family Place building.
A 2011 Boulevard Transportation Group report estimated the project will add 27 vehicle trips per peak hour through the Bay Avenue intersection. The road work will include widening, the addition of a turning lane and traffic lights at both Moilliet Street and Bay Avenue, which will also be realigned to create a perpendicular intersection.
The sewer, water and storm water mains will be replaced, along with new energy saving LED streetlights, sidewalks and other safety and landscaping features.
City staff recommended the lowest of the five bids received, with the highest coming in at $2.47 million. The low bid was 14 per cent above the engineer’s cost estimate, but this was deemed due to additional scope added during the process, increased asphalt prices and the requirement to avoid traffic disruptions in July and August.
Along with the lowest bid, Nanaimo’s Knapett Industries is praised in the staff report for their completion of many projects in the city including recent work on Moilliet Street.