Project design to bring some TLC to TLR

A unanimous vote by North Bay City Council will move the planned reconstruction of a 1.6-kilometre section of Trout Lake Road between Mountainview Drive and Lees Road to the design stage.

Council was on a deadline to move forward with the next phase of the Ontario-funded Connecting Links program that is slated to cover $3 million of the $3.5 million overall project that began with the rehabilitation of the section of Trout Lake Road between Giroux Street and Mountainview Drive in 2017, including the railway overpass. That initial phase wrapped up in 2018. 

See original story: Council approval is next milestone for safer Trout Lake Road stretch

Coun. Mark King noted the importance of moving forward with the Connecting Links program, saying the "taxpayers must recognize the contribution from the province made towards this is substantial."

During Tuesday's virtual regular meeting, Council awarded the $175,000 contract to Tatham Engineering Limited, indicated by the staff report as having scored the highest among five submissions in an evaluation taking into account experience, qualifications, response to the scope of work, and price. The Tatham bid is deemed to provide the "best overall value to the City," and is "considered fair and reasonable."

The City was granted funding to cover 90 per cent of the contracted design and engineering costs awarded to Tatham and the balance would be covered through the City's 2021 capital budget. 

Tatham's design will include road resurfacing and will address the icing issues on sections at the base of the hill during the winter and spring as a result of poor drainage. The design is expected to be completed in time to put the construction work out to tender in late 2021 or early 2022.

The project also includes the addition of bike lanes on either side of the 1.6-kilometre stretch of Trout Lake Road to "facilitate safe active transportation objectives through this corridor," according to the report.

The City of North Bay has been busy expanding its active transportation network, with a major project ongoing on Main Street West designed to fill the gaps in the trail system and ultimately link the College Drive Education Centre to Callander.

See also: Kinsmen Trail link across Chippewa Creek to get a new pedestrian bridge

"The extension of a bike path along that section of Trout Lake Road would certainly make sense," observed King. "I look forward to seeing that happen."