ADAM JACKSON/Ponoka News
A planned water and sewer line replacement project in Ponoka will be shortened after tenders for the project exceeded the town’s budget.
Gerald Matichuk, director of engineering and development, told council last week the lowest bid on the project was almost $20,000 more than the $260,000 estimated.
AIC Construction Ltd. bid $278,620, Grayson Excavating Ltd.’s bid came in at $344,536.50 and A&A Trenching $477,610.
“We sort of thought that might happen and it was laid out in such a fashion” it could be scaled back, Matichuk explained.
The project involves replacing old cast iron water main and sanitary sewer repairs on the back lane of 57th Avenue and east of 54th Street and installing three new hydrants. Matichuk said AIC Construction agreed to bid on a smaller job — removing the 57th Avenue work and one hydrant.
That bid came in at $241,250.63 and was accepted by council.
Matichuk said it was difficult to put together a job that was big enough to attract competitive bids and still turn a decent profit for the contractor.
Replacement is necessary because the aging line is leaking. “Hot soil” in the neighbourhood is blamed for speeding up the deterioration.