CENTRE WELLINGTON - Council will be retaining a consulting engineering firm to complete the detailed design, tender and construction of a new bridge that will replace a 112-year-old bridge just northeast of Fergus.
Centre Wellington council awarded engineering services to R.J. Burnside for $179,831.70, who will lead all phases of the project while working closely with the township for input and feedback.
The bridge, officially known as Bridge-16WG, is located in the former Township of West Garafraxa on the Fifth Line between Wellington Road 19 and Sideroad 15 in a rural area northeast of Fergus. It was constructed in 1910 and spans over the Irvine Creek.
Since the project will be a huge undertaking for township staff, they recommended hiring an outside engineering firm to lead all phases of the project.
Tasks will generally include review of background information; completion of any additional necessary surveys, studies, investigations or reports; detailed design for all disciplines; applications for required permits and approvals; pre-tender construction cost estimate; request for tender, and more.
Coun. Bob Foster wondered how the project is a huge undertaking for staff when the township has retained four engineers on board.
“A project like this where you need a reconstruction design does require a diverse team of expertise, which will consist of road designers, transportation engineers, structural engineers, economists,” explained township’s manager of engineering, Adam Gilmore, during the meeting.
“It is quite a significant undertaking to design a bridge like this and require a diverse team of engineers. You’re correct, we have four engineers and we work closely with our consultants, but it’s quite a significant undertaking that requires more than four engineers.”
Foster was the only one opposed to the recommendation.
