Site Work Continuing on New Water Treatment Plant
Fredericton (August 13, 2007) - Construction of the new City of Fredericton water treatment plant at 300 Waterloo Row is continuing with the awarding of a site preparation tender during a meeting of City Council.
City Council awarded the tender to Charmac Construction Co. Ltd., the low bidder on the contract, to begin necessary clearing and grubbing, the excavation of soil under the proposed structure and the construction of a pad of engineered fill to improve the bearing capacity for the new building. The $316 069.50 contract also calls for the construction of the sub-base for the driveway and parking area, the installation of fill and growing medium to the new finished grade, and preliminary landscaping and hydroseeding. Completion is required before the end of September.
"With this contract we are moving another step closer to making this new water treatment plant a reality," said Councillor Tony Whalen, Chair of the City's Public Safety & Environment Committee. "This major capital project is coming together nicely."
The Waterloo Row site is situated within the City's Heritage Preservation Area. As required, the proposed design of the 1,130 sq. metre facility by architects from ADI Ltd., of Fredericton, was reviewed recently by the Heritage Preservation Board, following a public consultation process. The design was tentatively approved by the Board, subject to a number of cosmetic changes to the building's appearance, including: the visual reduction of part of the roof; changes to some windows and approval of the building's sign.
The tentative approval has allowed site work to proceed while the architects draft the recommended design alterations.
"We are working on the specifications for the new building, and we hope to award a tender for the construction of the building by the middle of September," said Councillor Cathy MacLaggan, who represents the area in which the plant will be located.
Council has budgeted $2 million for work on the new plant this year. Work crews have been busy at the site for several weeks since the city purchased the former automobile service station from Imperial Oil in June.
Earlier this summer, the City's Engineering & Public Works Department undertook the demolition and removal of the existing structure, as well as the installation of some of the environmental protection provisions on the site. Managing the demolition "in-house" improved scheduling and provided greater control of the work, allowing the work to be done during normal hours and with an increased recycling of materials.
Council also earlier awarded an $802,687 contract to the California firm, Pureflow Filtration Division, for the supply of filters and related equipment for the proposed plant. More tenders will be called later this month for the reagent management and other process equipment, as well as building mechanical and electrical equipment.
The new plant will serve as an important back-up to the city's only other water treatment plant, located on Smythe Street, which has been serving the City's water needs since 1883. The new plant will draw it's water from three new wells drilled in the Queens Square area and allow the City to meet the growing demands for water brought about by record development.
Contact: John White, Communications, City of Fredericton, 506-460-2227.
