A Crossfield-based contractor has received the go-ahead to complete a $1.3- million infrastructure replacement project in downtown Bowden.At its June 23 meeting, Bowden council awarded a tender worth $1,236,065.90 plus GST to Foran Equipment Ltd. to carry out the midtown infrastructure replacement project that includes the replacement of water and sewer infrastructure, curbing and asphalt on 21 and 22 avenues between 20 and 21 streets this summer.Two companies bid for the project, with Foran submitting the lower bid.The budget for the entire project is $1,304,587.20 including GST and the town has applied for $1,353,836 in provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) and Basic Municipal Transportation Grant (BMTG) cash to pay for the project.The reason for the difference between the project budget and the awarded tender is because one section of the project on 21 Street between 22 Avenue and 23 Avenue Close was considered provisional and was ultimately deleted from the project schedule to prevent the possibility of a cost overrun for the project.Andy Weiss, the town's chief administrative officer, told council at the meeting he hoped to hear whether the province would approve the town's funding application in the following week.According to tender documents, work on the project is scheduled to begin on July 21, but Weiss said an official start date won't be known until the town receives word about its request for provincial funding.Mayor Robb Stuart asked how the project could affect the Bowden Parade on July 26.Weiss said the project only affects one small part of the parade route on 21 Street.If the town's funding requests are approved and the project does start before the parade, he added, the contractor would be contacted to make sure work on the project would not affect that section of 21 Street until after the parade.The project is expected to be completed before Oct. [email protected]
