There was a recommendation at last week’s Town meeting from Naji Rizk, superintendent for Public Works and Engineering Services of Lake Cowichan, to award the civil engineering design and construction inspection bid for the South Shore Road improvements to Associated Engineering, the lowest bidder of three companies.
Associated Engineering’s bid will include water work, as-built survey, and the daily rate for construction services. The proposed roundabout will cost approximately $27,210 (from Associated Engineering) and $40,780 for improvements.
The work Associated Engineering will provide does not include street light schemes, landscaping improvements, irrigation, signage, storm water management, construction inspection, material testing or contingencies.
Additional funding of $25,800 (30 days x $860 per day) is needed for the construction inspection and $31,210 for the first phase of improvements not included in Associated Engineering’s proposal. This brings the total required allocated costs for the South Shore Road roundabout and improvements to $125,000.
The improvements proposed may bring on some parking issues along the side of the road. Coun. Bob Day says “There is ample parking at several locations near the main street,” He adds, “Studies have shown that if parking directly in front of business locations is limited, and if people have to park off the main street they then become pedestrians and are more likely to enter more than one business.”
This is good news for business owners along the South Shore Road. The first phase of the streetscape will include bulging out of the sidewalks at crosswalks which will aid in slowing down traffic, keeping our streets safer and reducing the amount of “close calls” at that particular intersection.
Future phases of improvements that would be part of council’s vision would be consistent wider sidewalks all the way through town that host esthetically pleasing benches and trees.