MUSKOKA – It is time to dish out the road project contracts in the District of Muskoka.
The district engineering and public works committee approved $4.7 million in contracts at its April meeting for various road-related projects across the region.
The first was a $516,870 contract for the reconstruction of a section of South Portage Road that went to J&P Leveque Bros. Haulage Ltd.
Tony White, commissioner of engineering and public works, said the department was pleased to see six bids on the project and all of the bids were under budget.
Next was a $1.2-million contract for the pulverization and base stabilization of various regional roads, including Echo Lake Road, South Portage Road, Juddhaven Road and Canning Road. The contract went to Miller Paving Limited.
White said some of the area municipalities will fund part of the projects that fall within their jurisdictions.
A $586,408 contract for the application of slurry seal to Etwell Road, South Portage Road, Southwood Road, Fraserburg Road, Beiers Road and Go Home Lake Road went to Miller Paving as well.
Slurry Seal is a blend of crushed aggregates, asphalt emulsion, water and mineral fillers applied as a surface treatment to tar and chip roads. White said the sealant turns tar and chip roads into a surface on which people enjoy driving.
Most people cannot tell the difference between a sealed tar and chip road and a much more expensive asphalt surface, said White.
He said it is good bang for the district’s buck.
A $1.2-million contract to apply tar and chip to Echo Lake Road, South Portage Road, Juddhaven Road and Canning Road went to Fowler Construction Company Limited. The cost of these projects, like the pulverization contract, will be shared with area municipalities.
A $1.2-million contract for the resurfacing of District Road 117 went to Fowler Construction as well.
Seven contractors picked up tenders for the project but only one bid was received, stated a staff report. The contractor’s experience was reviewed, as were the individual unit prices, and although there was only one bid staff determined the estimate represented a fair price for the work, the report stated.