by Tom Sasvari
GORE BAY—Gore Bay council has given its approval to hire an engineering firm to complete the design work for a watermain rehabilitation project to be carried out in town.
At a special council meeting March 2, council awarded the watermain rehabilitation project design to Exp. Engineering.
“For the watermain project we have the funds approved and in place and have secured an engineering firm to do the design work,” Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane told The Expositor after a regular council meeting last week. “The waterline system is old and needs to be brought up to modern standards.”
“The expectation is that the work will be done this year, probably later in the year so that it doesn’t disrupt the local business community especially during the summer months,” said Mayor Lane. “The waterline replacement project will take in the area from the Dawson Street east to hook into the existing line.” It will also take in Meredith Street, Borron Street East, and about two-thirds of the way up Thorburn Street and connect to the existing line. In addition to this the water line from Laird Street to Phipps and Huron Street will be part of the project. “Basically, this will be an upgrade of the waterline on the north end of town,” Mayor Lane said, noting investigation will also take place on the storm drains and sewer lines to make sure they are working properly. Once everything is in place the paving and sidewalks that will be torn up with the work to be carried out will be replaced.
“We hope to go to tender for the construction later this spring and to start the project in the late summer,” Mayor Lane told The Expositor.
Michael Lalonde, Gore Bay treasurer told The Expositor that the costs of the project are all covered. The had applied for funding of $1.4 million for the project in 2021 and has received 74 percent of the funding through a combination of federal and provincial funds through the Green Infrastructure Stream program. The rest of the funds for the project have come from the town water reserves budget.
