The replacement of the Kawkawa Lake Road Bridge has come in well under budget.
Town manager Earl Rowe informed council on Monday night that the total cost will be no more than $5 million, of which the municipal share is approximately $2 million.
“We’re very pleased staff delivered the bridge project well under the maximum we said it could go to,” said Mayor Laurie French.
The bridge replacement cost was split three ways between the federal, provincial and local governments. The original estimate was $10 million.
During the debate surrounding the referendum on financing the bridge, council guaranteed there would be a $3 million limit on municipal spending for the project.
“I think as a municipality we’re really lucky that the public allowed us that flexibility to use the money to accomplish this,” said Coun. Ron Smith. “It provides an additional safe route for the public.”
Rowe explained there are still a few things that need to be finished in the next year, but have already been allocated for in the total project cost. They include the removal of a pier and structure on the west embankment, as well as the planting of vegetation along the river banks. The district has submitted a request to the province to extend total completion of the project to fall 2012 in order to accommodate this work.