Owen Sound city hall. (photo by Claire McCormack)
Several capital projects in Owen Sound this year aren’t going ahead as planned.
Councillors heard during a special meeting on Monday Phase 2 of the Downtown River Precinct is going to be re-tendered and construction likely won’t begin until April 2023.
Just over $1.7-million is allocated in the 2022 capital plan for the revamp of the 900 block of 1st Avenue East and the lone tender bid the city received was about $1-million over budget.
Owen Sound Acting Director of Public Works and Engineering Mike Crone told councillors a revised scope for Phase 2 of the Downtown River Precinct is being drawn up with options that would include some changes to aesthetic features to help lower the price tag.
“A few less concrete pavers and a little more asphalt. And some review of the lighting and other minor changes that will likely be unoticeable but have the potential to save quit a bit of money,” Crone says.
A few other capital projects aren’t going ahead as planned this year as well.
The $50,000 replacement of Weaver’s Creek boardwalk at Harrison Park is on hold as the city has not secured partnership funding for it.
Extensive electrical upgrades at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park have been delayed because the construction tender significantly exceeded the $597,000 budget. The city had applied for a Canada Cultural Spaces Grant to finance part of the project.
A couple of road infrastructure projects including a 6th Avenue West culvert replacement and engineering for 9th Avenue East (North) work have also been put off.