HIGHLAND SOUTH BRIDGE REHABILITATION AWARD

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approve the award for the Town’s 2026 Highland South Bridge Rehabilitation construction contract to Island Applicators at a price of $99,710 plus GST.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Option #2: THAT Council cancel the award and direct staff to defer the Highland South Bridge Rehabilitation project to a future year.

Staff do not recommend this option because delaying the work increases the risk of further deterioration to critical bridge structural elements, reduces the Town’s ability to complete the work within the fisheries timing window, and increases future construction costs.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To seek Council approval to award the construction contract for the Highland South Bridge Rehabilitation project (C-184 Bridge Rehabilitation Program), identified in the 2026–2030 Financial Plan.

BACKGROUND:

Highland South Bridge is an existing municipal bridge asset that has been identified in the latest bridge inspection audit to require short term rehabilitation of critical structural elements to support long-term asset management and achieve its full estimated serviceable life. Completing the work will maintain safe and reliable access for the community, especially as the bridge is located within the Thetis Lake Park area. The project location is included in Attachment #1.

The work involves construction within a fish-bearing stream bed and will be undertaken under permit from the province. Construction is scheduled for early August and is required to be completed withing the fisheries timing window for the in-stream component of the work.

In accordance with the Town’s Purchasing Policy, staff sought three quotes for the Highland South Bridge Rehabilitation work. Island Applicators submitted the lowest quote in the amount of $99,710 plus GST.

IMPACTS:

Within the Bridge Rehabilitation Project C-184, $160,000 of the budget is earmarked for this project. The bid, including engineering and environmental professional services, is within the approved 2026–2030 Financial Plan project budget as a result.

Staff recommend awarding the construction contract to Island Applicators in the amount of $99,710 plus GST. Awarding the contract will allow the rehabilitation work to proceed within the 2026 fishery window for working within a stream. If the contract is not awarded, the project would miss this window and the work would need to be deferred to the next available dry-season construction window in 2027.

ANALYSIS:

Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:

ALIGNMENT:

The recommended option aligns with the Town’s guiding documents as follows:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:

The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:

[X] Inform [ ] Consult [ ] Involve [ ] Collaborate [ ] Empower [ ] N/A

TIME CRITICAL:

Time is of the essence to ensure that the works can proceed within this year’s fisheries window.

CONCURRENCE:

REVIEWED BY:

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Attachment 1 – Project Location