Millions of dollars in road work projects being conducted in Sioux Lookout

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout area residents and visitors to town will probably have noticed several roadwork projects taking place around town.
The Bulletin reached out to The Municipality of Sioux Lookout to find out more about these projects.
The Municipality shared information on the following five projects:

Project Name: Moosehorn Road Resurfacing
Contractor: Miller Paving Limited
Description: The scope of work for this project involves the application of new chip seal from Whispering Pines Boulevard to the end of Moosehorn Road.
Benefit: The application of chip seal will improve the surface conditions of Moosehorn Road. 
Timeline: Preparation work was completed in early July. Application of chip seal scheduled between July 25th and 26th. Local traffic only during work.
Financing:
Project Cost (budget): $220,000.
Project Funding:
$200,000. – Federal Gas Tax funding

Project Name: Third Avenue and Front Street Upgrade
Contractor: Bay City Contractors
Description: The scope of work of this project includes new infrastructure (water, sewer, and storm sewer) from Second Avenue and Front Street, westerly, close to the intersection of Front Street and Fourth Avenue, as well as King Street at Third Avenue, southerly to Front Street. Additionally, the sewer truck main is being changed and redirected, starting from the manhole in front of DJ’s Gas Bar to the parking lot to the south, and westerly to reconnect at the Heritage Railway Station. 
Benefit: This project will realize important improvements to both our water and sewer infrastructure as well as surface infrastructure within the scope of work.
Timeline: There has been a change in the timeline due to supply chain issues for the contractor. This construction season, the Contractor will change and redirect the sewer trunk main from DJs to the Heritage Railway Station, as described above, and the paving and related surface works will be completed from Third Avenue and Front Street intersection, westerly to close to the intersection of Front Street and Fourth Avenue.
The contractor is awaiting catch basins and sewer manholes to be delivered before they start construction, but we anticipate actual construction within the next week. The contractor currently projects completion of the first phase of work by end of October in time for the paving to occur. 
During the 2024 construction season, the contractor will complete the rest of the project, including paving and related surface works from Third Avenue and Front Street to Second Avenue and Front Street, as well as from Third Avenue between Front Street and King Street.
Once the project starts, the public can anticipate significant traffic disruptions, as most of Front Street from Third to Fourth Avenues will be inaccessible. Businesses on the North side of Front Street will be accessible via the Back Lane, and we will work to ensure access to businesses on the South side of Front Street as well. 
Financing:
Project Cost (budget): 
$3,832,170.
Project Funding:
$334,000. – Federal Gas Tax Fund
$479,313. – Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund          
$655,000. – Municipal Reserves 
$2,363,857. – Long Term Debt

Project Name: Hillcrest Development Project 
Contractor: Makkinga Contractors 
Description: The scope of work for this project is laid out in two phases: Phase 1 includes upgrading the force main from the Mascotto’s lift station to Fourth Avenue, on Wellington Street, and adding extra storage capacity for the lift station, as well as installing new sewer and water mains on Hillcrest Drive from the roundabout to the new Hillcrest development site.
Phase 1 is currently underway, which involves the line drilling of the new force main.  Due to the type of rock beneath a 20-metre section of Wellington Street between Third and Fourth Avenue, the contractor must “open cut” (break the surface to install the forcemain) this section, hence the detour. The duration of the detour is expected until the second week of August, subject to any complications with the forcemain installation. We do not anticipate any additional traffic disruptions on Wellington Street other than the detour described. Upon commencement of the work on Hillcrest Drive, motorists can expect intermittent traffic delays to the cemetery, however, it will be accessible for any interments. 
Phase 2 of the project will involve clearing and preparing the Hillcrest development area (lands immediately North of Hillcrest Drive). This work will involve preparing the lands for future development, and installing new sewer, water and storm sewer mains to connect to the water and sewer works installed on Hillcrest Drive during Phase 1. Once all subsurface works are completed, curb/gutter and pavement will be installed for the Hillcrest development.
Benefit: This project will produce multiple positive outcomes, including:
extension and enhanced capacity of water and sewer services;
preparation of the Hillcrest development area for new construction (anticipated to commence in 2024: office building, and more)
resurfacing of Hillcrest Drive
Financing:
Project Cost (budget):
$8,136,465.
Project Funding:
$664,014. – FedNor
$1,000,000. – Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
$6,472,451. – Long Term Debt

Project Name: Airport Road Upgrade
Contractor: Positano Paving
Description: The scope of work for this involves road improvements and resurfacing, repair and standardization of entrances, and improvements to drainage from the intersection at the Administration Building, northerly for approximately 520 metres. During construction there will always be at least one lane of traffic allowing continued access all properties. 
Benefit: improvements to the drainage, entrances to all properties, and the resurfacing of Airport Road will improve accessibility and facilitate planned development in the airport development area immediately North of the airport.
Timeline: work commenced on July 24th and is expected to be completed by September 30th.
Financing:
Project Cost (budget):
$1,339,520.
Project Funding:
$1,339,520. – Airport Improvement Fees

Project Name: Bigwood Services Extension 
Contractors: 
Accurate HD – Fifth Avenue infrastructure upgrades
Positano Paving – Fifth Avenue paving
LH North – construction of new booster station
Description: The scope of work for this project included increasing the capacity of the water main on Fifth Avenue, and the construction of a booster station North of Fifth Avenue, near the Hugh Allan Clinic. The purpose of this work is to enable the extension of water services to the Bigwood development area, East of the Airport.
Benefit: providing increased water flows at the Airport and expanding water service to the Bigwood Lake development area will move the Bigwood Lake property one step closer to being development-ready. The Municipality has received considerable interest from developers for the Bigwood Lake development area.
Timeline: Phase 1 of this project – the subsurface infrastructure expansion and the repairs/repaving on Fifth Avenue – began in 2022 and has recently been completed. Phase 2 is currently underway, and it involves the construction of the booster station. There will likely be a brief water disruption when the water mainline is tied-in to the booster station, however, impacted residences/businesses will be notified in advance. No additional traffic distributions are anticipated with this phase of the project.   
Financing:
Project Cost (budget):
$5,144,710.
Project Funding:
$975,000. – FedNor
$975,000. – Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

$1,592,710. – Municipal Reserves
$1,602,000. – Long Term Debt

The Municipality shared that is has also contracted with Positano Paving to undertake various minor repairs, patches, and upgrades in various areas throughout the community. 
The Municipality concluded that it, “prioritizes these types of projects based on several criteria, including:

• “the Municipality’s Asset Management Plan, which helps guide infrastructure investments based on current state/status, need, and projected need/use of the asset;
• “community growth, with respect to housing, economic development, and related development considerations;
  
• “financial considerations and balance with regard to available funding from  Municipal reserves, access to funding from other orders of government, and long-term debt.”