St. Marys awards $2.1-million contract for Thomas, Jones and Ontario street reconstruction

This map shows where the reconstruction of sections of Thomas Street, Jones Street West and Ontario Street South in St. Marys will begin later this month.

By Galen Simmons

St. Marys council has awarded a contract worth more than $2.1 million for the reconstruction of sections of Thomas Street, Jones Street West and Ontario Street South, with construction expected to begin later this month.

At a special meeting March 31, council awarded the tender to 291 Construction Ltd. in the amount of $2,151,628.25, including taxes and contingencies, for work that will include road reconstruction, underground infrastructure upgrades and improvements to pedestrian safety features. According to St. Marys director of public works Jed Kelly, construction is expected to begin within the next one to two weeks, with the contractor starting work by installing a temporary watermain and completing initial removals.

“Work will start in the next one to two weeks, potentially somewhere around April 20-27,” Kelly told the Independent.

During construction, the affected streets will be limited to local traffic only. Work will take place on Thomas Street from Jones Street West to Queen Street, Ontario Street South to Jones Street West, and Jones Street West between Ontario Street South and Thomas Street.

“The road will be limited to local traffic only,” Kelly said. “The contractor is starting on Thomas Street, then up to Ontario Street, and finally the Jones Street segment.”

Kelly said the contractor will maintain access for residents throughout construction.

“The contractor will ensure that driveways are accessible at the beginning and end of each day, maintaining a hardpack single lane of gravel for vehicle travel and hardpack gravel for access for pedestrian traffic,” he said. “Non-local residents should detour and avoid the area as through traffic will not be possible during the workday.”

Substantial completion of the project is expected by Aug. 30.

The reconstruction project was identified as a priority through the town’s 10-year capital plan based on the current condition of the roads and the need for underground infrastructure improvements.

“The scope of work includes the full reconstruction of both asphalt and concrete roadway sections to address existing wear and extend the lifespan of these important corridors,” Kelly said.

In addition to improvements to the road surface, the project includes replacement of watermains to improve reliability and reduce the risk of service disruptions, as well as isolated sanitary sewer repairs and targeted stormwater system upgrades to improve drainage and environmental performance.

New sidewalks, curbs and gutters will also be installed to enhance accessibility, pedestrian safety and stormwater management along the affected streets.

The project is expected to exceed the original construction budget by approximately $121,000, which Kelly said reflects typical fluctuations in pricing between the design stage and the final tender process.

“Staff use the best available information, but unit-rate prices can fluctuate between design, budget approval and final tender due to the length of the process,” Kelly said.

Residents with questions about the project can contact the town’s public works department at publicworks@town.stmarys.on.ca or 519-284-2340 ext. 213.