Bridge Maintenance on the way in Woodlands County

The 2021 Woodlands County Operational Budget included $450,000 for bridge maintenance. Andre Bachand, Director of Infrastructure, presented recently received tender results during the December 8 Regular Council Meeting. He said structures that needed work were prioritized once the year’s bridge inspections were completed. “Normally, the tenders go out a bit earlier, but because some of this involved winter work, because of water restrictions, this was going out a bit later,” he explained.

The four structures identified are Bridge File 13672, located in the Goose Lake area. The bridge is located on a dead-end road with no residents beyond the structure. The RFD stated that the bridge is an 11.4m long single lane bridge made of treated woodpiles, back wall, and breast walls with precast girders. The maintenance work will require the road to be closed as crews replace girders, add a row of treated wood on the back wall and remove drift.

The second structure is located northwest of Fort Assiniboine (File 78594). The bridge will see its girders replaced with timber caps and guide rail repairs. Crews will also be securing and replacing some back wall planks. The third bridge (File 73646) is southwest of Blue Ridge on Range Road 101 and is a 6.1m long treated timber span constructed in 1949. Repairs needed at the site include wooden piles, wheel guards, and a complete inspection of the strip deck.

The fourth structure receiving maintenance is located east of Whitecourt on Trestle Road. The bridge, made of precast concrete girders on a treated wood substructure, was built in 1969. Similar repairs will be required, including replacing the timber caps and signage. The RFD states that all affected residents will be notified before closures.

Woodlands County received five bids for the projects. The highest bid received came from Ledcor Highways Ltd for $609,260. The lowest bid, $271,550, came from Bridgemen Services Ltd. MPA Engineering provided a letter and the tender information, recommending that the County select the lowest bidder. “MPA has extensive prior history with Bridgemen Services Ltd. on similar contract work with a record of satisfactory results,” read the letter.

Councillor Jeremy Wilhelm queried the difference between some of the tenders received. “Is it typical to get a tendered quote so significantly lower than the other ones? Obviously, our engineering firm is backing them, but that’s a significant price difference.” Wilhelm referred to the stark difference between $609,260 and $271,550, the highest and lowest bids.

Bachand explained. “There’s no telling what kind of bids you’re going to get. Typically, there’s usually one that’s really high. It’s just the way it works.” Councillor Wilhelm prodded for more information. “I’m assuming we are taking MPA Engineering at their word that these guys are going to do a good job? We’re not just getting the cheapest one possible,” he asked. CAO Gordon Frank provided more clarity. “Typically, it is based on how much work they have. So, the typical high bid, they have lots of work, and they just throw in a bid, and if they get it, great. The low bid typically doesn’t have work scheduled. That’s in a general term.”

Deputy Mayor Alan Deane said that he wondered the same. “I wouldn’t call it a concern, but it certainly jumped out. The engineering firm vetted all of these companies, and they have looked at their reference’s etcetera? They are familiar with their work?” Bachand responded with assurance. “Yes. MPA Engineering is strictly bridges for the most part. They work with all these contractors on a regular basis and have given work to this particular contractor in the past and have never had any issues with them.”

Woodlands County Council voted on three motions. Councillor Wilhelm made a motion to award the Bridge Maintenance Tender to Bridgemen Services Ltd for the tendered amount of $271,550 plus taxes. Councillor Dave Kusch then made a motion that Council approves a ten percent contingency for the Bridge Maintenance Tender for $27,155 if

required. The final motion on the topic came from Councillor Bruce Prestidge. He motioned that Council approves $62,618.90 in engineering fees to MPA Engineering, which includes “tendering, evaluation, project management, Q.C, surgery and drawings,” as stated in the RFD. The motions passed unanimously.