About $1.4 million in additional work has been added to Phase 5 of the Cast Iron Water Main Replacement Project after construction crews got a surprise at the intersection of High Street West and Second Avenue Northwest.

Engineering Services’ background showed that the water mains running north and south on Second Avenue were not connected to the water mains being replaced on High Street. This turned out not to be the case.

“As we came to that intersection we learned that it is in fact connected to the north-south line on Second Avenue,” said director of engineering services Bevin Harlton.

“We looked at ways to tie and connect that line and through the process we had a look at the extends of Second and what we found was it was a flankage street with minimal services.”

The original tender came under budget by about $1.8 million.

Along with replacing cast iron water mains, the work would also see the installation of traffic bulbs at the southeast corner of Main Street and Fairford Street East, sidewalk removal to allow for trees on the zero block of Fairford Street East’s north side and full road overlay.

On High Street, there will be the installation of a centre median between Second and Third Avenue, installation of pedestrian ramps as required, relocate and upgrade catch basins and full road overlay across east and westbound lanes.

A full road overlay will also take place on Third Avenue.

Second Avenue will see the installation of approximately 335 metres of PVC water mains and road paving.

“This change order came about because of what we found underground. Engineering was working on another location. However, this became the pressing need because we are under construction right now and we don’t want crews waiting around for us to make a call while they are in the area,” said city manager Jim Puffalt.

Coun. Heather Eby pointed out that when the original tender was put out, the idea was to have the roads fully paved, but somehow it turned into patchwork and was in favour of the full paving.

Both Mayor Fraser Tolmie and Coun. Crystal Froese voiced that they liked the idea of getting everything done while crews are in the area. Puffalt pointed out that if the work didn’t get down now it could be 20 years before it is touched again. Froese added city council has been caught in the past of going back to projects and those projects costing more in the end.

Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed. While he was glad the tender came under budget, he would rather have more cast iron replacement done.

The project would cost $686,000 from the TR1 Paved Roads fund for the full road overlays and $727,000 from WW17 Water Main Replacement fund to pay for the increased water main replacements, Downtown Local Area Plan improvements and associated surface work.

The motions passed 5-2 with Swanson and Coun. Scott McMann opposed.