A major project expected to come in under budget was welcome news for Renfrew Town Councillors.
Council awarded construction of O’Brien Road from Mask Road to Wrangler Road to Thomas Cavanaugh Construction for around $4.3 million, plus a little more than $500,000 already paid for the project’s management and design.
The total comes to about $1 million less than the $6 million that the town had expected, with as much as $3 million of the bill being funded through the Ministry of Transportation’s Connecting Link program, according to Town Treasurer Charlene Jackson.
The motion passed 5 votes to 2, with some councillors worried about debenture spending to cover the remaining costs and some aspects of the project, like the controversial roundabout proposed for one of the intersections.
Chief Administrative Officer Rob Tremblay did offer council the option to not award the contract and push the project back to a later date, but he would also remind them that their deal with the MTO made it a time-sensitive issue.
Councillor Jason Legris was among the votes in favour, noting the work is important as the town prepares itself ahead of the expansion of Highway 417.
This project is the final phase of a years-long rehabilitation of O’Brien Road under the Connecting Link program, which helps municipalities care for parts of provincial highways that pass through built-up communities.
(written by Kasey Egan)