Infrastructure work underway in Perth-Andover
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
PERTH-ANDOVER - A flurry of construction activity is finally underway in Perth-Andover as work on long-awaited improvements to the water systems, and a new sidewalk began recently.
Construction work on nearly $1.8 million in Perth-Andover water system improvements has started with Birmingham Construction being awarded the $177,000 tender to connect a new 25-centimetre water main from the underwater river crossing at the Perth Irving Mainway to Birchwood Street and Terrace Street.
Chief administrative officer Dan Dionne said the new water main will give the village increased water capacity. Perth-Andover has two wells, one located at the southern part of Perth at East Riverside Drive, and the well located in Andover on the grounds of Southern Victoria High School. A water main under the St. John River connects the two wells to the village drinking water supply.
"The water main work should take about four to five weeks to complete," Dionne said.
The new water main will be buried under Department of Natural Resources property that is part of the Sentier NB Trail system and the Victoria County ATV trail that runs from Perth-Andover to Plaster Rock. Dionne stated earlier that any damage to the trails will be repaired.
Tenders for other water systems improvement are now being sought. The well house improvements will see new more efficient pumps installed in both wells, a new well house addition constructed over the Perth well, and the implementation of an ultra-violet disinfection system.
Dionne reported at the Oct. 13 council meeting that new pumps have been ordered for both wells. The pump for the Andover well has been delivered and will be installed in about a week. The Andover well changeover will take about a day to complete.
"The engineer felt it is best to do the Andover well first before any work is completed on the Perth well to ensure there are no water service interruptions," Dionne told council.
The water main improvements are part of the provincial and federal economic stimulus projects. The three levels of government committed $577,252 each toward the $1,731,756 project to improve the water system on both sides of the village.
Meanwhile, Morin Curbing was awarded the contract to install a new sidewalk and curb on East Riverside Drive from the ballfield south to Hotel Dieu of St. Joseph hospital.
"There will be a new curb and gutter installed and the sidewalk will be set back from the road," Dionne said. "The excavation work is now complete." The sidewalk construction was expected to be completed this week.
The village approached local landowners and received permission to place the new concrete sidewalk about six feet from the roadway, providing a green belt between the traffic and pedestrians.
Dionne asked council if the village should add topsoil and try to seed the new greenway this late in the fall, or wait until next year. Councillors agreed to wait until next spring, but gave Dionne permission to proceed as soon as weather conditions permit.
"With the wet weather we have had this fall, I expect it would be hard to do anything with topsoil," the mayor said.
"I would like to see that (topsoil) tender placed in March so we don't have all summer go on before this is completed," Coun. Carter Kennedy commented.
Patching up the driveways and repaving around the new sidewalk will be completed this fall.
The sidewalk improvement, pegged at $130,000, is not part of the stimulus funding and is being funded by the village.
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