Work to begin in June and wrap up by December

LAURIE WEIR

Brace yourself. Summer in Smiths Falls means snarled traffic on the best of days with the opening of the Rideau Canal.

This summer will be even more challenging to navigate with continued road work on George Street, as council awarded a $1.98-million contract to K. Mulrooney Trucking Ltd. for the second phase of reconstruction. This followed a staff recommendation at its May 20 committee of the whole meeting.

The work, which covers William Street West to Gladstone Avenue, includes full road reconstruction, replacement of underground infrastructure, new sidewalks with accessibility features, curbs, and landscaping. Construction is scheduled to begin no earlier than June 3 and must be completed by Dec. 10.

“This is a full reconstruction project, similar to what we did with Phase 1,” Paul McMunn, director of public works, shared with council. 

Mulrooney submitted the lowest of three compliant bids. The other submissions were $2.6 million from R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. and $2.78 million from Ingimundson Construction Ltd.

The project has a 2025 capital budget of nearly $3 million. After HST and adjustments, approximately $936,000 remains for materials testing, staff wages, and contingency costs.

The upgrade supports the town’s 2023 to 2026 strategic goal of investing in core infrastructure.

McMunn said work will start about mid-June. Letters will be sent to residents on the street to advise them of the project.