Duane Hicks
The town has priorized two sewer projects as it prepares to apply to the province for another round of infrastructure funding.
There is $71 million in funding available from the Small, Rural and Northern Municipal Infrastructure Fund, but the town’s expressions of interest must be submitted prior to Nov. 1.
One high-priority project identified is Colonization Road West, specifically the stretch between 1302 Colonization Rd. W. all the way west to the water valve just east of the Armstrong Place intersection, Coun. Paul Ryan said at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
This would include replacing 478 metres of watermain, which originally was installed in 1967, plus 276 metres of 12-inch sanitary sewer main.
The existing storm sewer piping and surface infrastructure would be replaced at the same time.
“The bolts out there are all rusted off,” noted Coun. Ryan. “We’ve had many watermain breaks on this line.”
He added a very rough estimate of the cost is $1.8 million.
The second project identified is Third Street East between Crowe Avenue and Frenette Avenue.
Coun. Ryan said this would include the replacement of 274 metres of 18-inch diameter sanitary sewer, as well as the replacement of the watermain, storm sewer piping, and surface infrastructure.
A rough estimate of the cost is $995,000.
Depending on the funding application criteria, the town will apply for both projects.
But if it must choose one, Coun. Ryan said it will be the Colonization Road West project.
As reported last week, the town recently was awarded $847,379 to help pay for above- and below-ground infrastructure at Second Street East and Mowat Avenue.
Coun. Ryan said he believes the funding came as a direct result of local delegates complaining to provincial representatives during an AMO conference in Ottawa last month.
“They were sure writing things down when we told them that we were not considered for a very important project,” he recalled.
“Two weeks later, we got the money.
“This [$847,379] is going to help us continue with our program, and these two projects are very important, as well,” Coun. Ryan added.
The money was granted under Round 1 of the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative, which now is called the Small, Rural and Northern Municipal Infrastructure Fund.
