E.C. King Contracting has been awarded the contract to replace the 9th Street bridge across the Sydenham River in downtown Owen Sound.
But not all of the work the city had hoped to do as part of the reconstruction will be completed this year due to budget constraints.
It was hoped that, for 3 million dollars, the bridge could be replaced and all of 9th Street could be totally reconstructed between 2nd Avenue West and 2nd Avenue East.
That would have included all new servicing, including a new watermain and sanitary sewer under the bridge, and streetscaping.
However, the price tag for all of that would have topped 4 million dollars.
So city council, after a lengthy debate at its meeting on Monday night, voted to scale back the project somewhat.
The road will only be rebuilt between 2nd Avenue West and 1st Avenue East, leaving one block to be completed at some point in the future.
The cost is still close to 3.5 million, plus taxes, so council has directed staff to go back to the contractor and see if there is some wiggle room as the project moves forward.
City Manager Jim Harrold says the bridge itself is non-negotiable. Other items he hopes will be included are new water lines and a new wastewater connection that will help divert some of the sewage that currently crosses the river at 10th Street.
It’s hoped work will begin by the end of this month or early in June.
How long the project takes will ultimately depend on what all is included, Harrold says.