file photo/paNOW Staff

By Charlene Tebbutt

pedestrian bridges

Pedestrian bridge project hits another snag

Apr 9, 2019 | 1:58 PM

A plan by city administration to begin replacing pedestrian bridges across Prince Albert has hit another snag after city councillors raised questions about the construction tender.

Ward 8 Coun. Ted Zurakowski suggested the city get a legal opinion on the proposed work before going ahead. At city council’s regular meeting Monday night, Zurakowski said councillors didn’t review other tenders for the project, and doesn’t want to rush into things.

“There’s certain restrictions we have and we’re mandated to have those conversations outside of the public, for good reason, and I’d like to flesh out those conversations,” Zurakowski said following the meeting. “There’s more information I’m looking for and I’d like to see that information before I’m comfortable moving forward.”

City administration hoped to get started on geotechnical work for the eight bridges before the weather warmed up too much. Councillors decided to send the issue to City Manager Jim Toye’s office for further review instead, meaning a delay in the work.

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Geotechnical work for the project was also delayed last month after councillors requested more information and a breakdown of costs. The issue was on the agenda again Monday night, where councillors were asked to formally award the planning and design work to ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. out of Saskatoon at a cost of $234,150 over the next four years.

The total cost to replace the eight pedestrian bridges is about $2 million.

On Monday, Mayor Greg Dionne said administration should have presented the report to council sooner. The budget for the project was discussed back in December, he said, adding that it would be helpful to see the other tenders that came in for the project.

“That’s not our fault if we miss the window,” Dionne said. “It’s important that we have all the facts in front of us.”

Wes Hicks, director of public works with the city said administration moved as quickly as possible following formal approval of the 2019 budget on Jan. 7. The request for proposals was issued at the end of January with a deadline of mid-February.

The report was first presented to council at the end of February.

“We were hoping to do the geotechnical [work] with frozen ground so that there would be no damages to the park areas,” he added. “That won’t be possible now. Even if we make the next round of council, the ground will become soft.”

Council has heard previously that the bridges are in poor shape and in need of replacement. Hicks said it isn’t clear what will happen next, but city council is supportive of the plan to replace pedestrian bridges.

“I know it was council’s wish during the budget deliberation to move forward with the bridges, and the majority of council actually motioned to increase the budget so that we could do more than one bridge per year,” Hicks added.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt