Cost for next phase of 100th Street rebuild higher than expected: City of Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The City of Fort St. John had to transfer funds from another project and pull from reserves as the 100th Street project came in over budget.

In a March 14th report to council, the city’s engineering team says the cost came in higher than anticipated based on last year’s rates.

Knappett was awarded the second phase of construction for $7.63 million in 2021, and the city had budgeted $12.3 million with the remaining funds transferring to this year’s phase.

The total cost for the redevelopment of 100th Street from south of 99th Ave to north of 101st Avenue is expected to be $10,481,547.

Knappett Industries was awarded the project tender for $9,219,497 by council on Monday. The remaining cost of the project comes from engineering fees and materials.

To remain on budget, the city is postponing the paving of 81st Avenue and transferring a portion of the project funds to the 100th street rebuild. An additional $250,000 is also being pulled from the water reserves.

In the report, staff say the increased tendered cost is due to the global supply chain affecting pricing and the availability of material, labour shortages, and the depth of utilities being deeper than expected.

Even with the increases, the city believes it may have an estimated $1.45 million surplus to go towards alley upgrades, according to the report.

The upgrades would then be completed before phase four of the 100th Street work.

The lanes proposed to be upgraded are east of 100th Street between 101st Ave and 102nd Ave and east to 98th Street, between 102nd Ave and 103rd Ave, between 104th Ave and 105th Ave and west to 100th Street.

During Monday’s council meeting, councillor Tony Zabinsky brought up concerns around staffing levels for the next phase of redevelopment.

“Are they going to be able to provide enough staff to get this done in time? That’s what it comes down to,” said Zabinsky, noting the potential for frustration in the community if delays take place.

“We award these big projects, and what happens is that sometimes is they come back and don’t have the staff to get there.”

Manager of engineering Jim Stewart told council that Knappett was able to secure their labour force due to the tender being awarded early.

“Their head office is on Vancouver Island, and they have a number of staff down there that are available to come up here also,” said Stewart.

During a consultation in 2019, the city and community members put forward a new design for 100th Street that included reducing traffic to one lane in each direction from 96 Street to 105 Avenue. The plan was approved in October 2019.

The final plan will see downtown, along 100th Street, divided into five precincts starting at 95th Avenue and running north until 110th Avenue. The main part of downtown will run from 96th Avenue to 105th Avenue.