Mountain View County councillors have been given a review of the $12.3-million Acme Road upgrade project.
During the regularly scheduled Jan. 28 council meeting AMEC Environmental and Infrastructure managers Pat Newman and Colin Stroeder presented the review of the project, which saw 13.73 kilometres of the Acme Road from Highway 22 to Spreters Hill upgraded in 2013 and 2014.
Preliminary design on the project began in 2007 and construction commenced in May 2013.
The total cost of the project came in at $12,261,400, including $10,713,403 for construction, $1,297,996 for engineering and $250,000 for utilities, council heard.
The overall budget for the project was $13.3 million, approved by council in December 2012.
Richardson Bros. Olds Ltd. was the local contractor that worked on the project, beating out 16 competitor tenders. Central City Asphalt Ltd. was awarded the paving contract.
Challenges faced during the project included a higher than expected water table on some hills, heavy snowfall in 2013, heavy rains in 2014, the need to move gas line, landscaping, fencing, access roads and off-project requirements, council heard.
"A large amount of topsoil was found in the existing roadbed. West of Highway 766 most of this material was used in large two-metre fill sections outside of the road core. East of Highway 766, ditches and side slopes were padded and built up,î said Newman.
High water at Rge. Rd. 3.3 required geosynthetics and wick drains for stabilization during base paving operations, he said.
Between 2013 and 2014 Richardson Bros. lost more than 50 days due to inclement weather.
Reeve Bruce Beattie commended AMEC for completing the project under budget.
"It was really well done,î said Beattie.
Deputy Reeve Patricia McKean also commended AMEC and contractors for the project. "I've had nothing but great comments,î said McKean.
AMEC also gave councillors an update on an examination of the 12-kilometre section of Rge. Rd. 2.0 from Highway 582 to Twp. Rd. 334 (between Didsbury and Olds west of Highway 2A).
The examination of the road found it is in poor condition at numerous places due to heavy use by vehicles travelling between Olds and Didsbury.
"Reconstruction of this section would be the preferred option,î said Newman. "The reconstruction may include, but is not limited to, removal of the existing pavement structures, and the upper portions of the subgrade to design elevation, preparation of subgrade and construction. Depending upon the minimum requirements for width, subgrade widening may be required.î
Council has not made any decision on moving forward with the upgrade of the Rge. Rd. 2.0 section, said Reeve Bruce Beattie.
