JASON SETNYK
Cornwall City Council has approved a non-competitive procurement to retain a local engineering firm for construction administration and site inspection services tied to the planned rehabilitation of Brookdale Avenue.
The contract, awarded to EVB Engineering for $381,269.91 including HST, is tied to a provincially funded project supported through the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s Connecting Links Program. The program will cover up to 90 per cent of eligible costs, with the City responsible for the remaining share through its Road Infrastructure Reserve.
The approval allows the City to meet a key funding milestone under its transfer payment agreement with the province, ensuring access to up to $3 million in funding for the project. While the procurement did not go through a competitive bidding process, councillors supported the approach based on continuity and cost efficiency.
“I just want to say I approve of this even though it’s non-competitive,” said Councillor Elaine MacDonald. “The explanation is that the spadework’s been done by EVB Engineering, and I think just logic tells us that if we were to hire a separate engineering firm, they would obviously start over again or do a good chunk of what’s already been done.”
MacDonald added that bringing in a new firm could lead to duplication and increased costs. “I think this is a cost-effective way to get this work done, so I think if we can save this money by doing this, we should.” The Brookdale Avenue project focuses on a key connecting link (Highway 138) running through Cornwall, connecting provincial highways to the international bridge crossing. The current phase of work is limited by available funding, with plans centred on reconstructing the Ninth Street intersection and resurfacing portions of the corridor between Seventh and Ninth Streets.
City administration emphasized that the approval primarily ensures compliance with provincial funding requirements rather than advancing full construction at this stage. Deputy CAO and Fire Chief Matthew Stephenson described the approach as phased, noting the City is “essentially a pause” on the broader project while positioning itself for future funding opportunities.
The broader project involves the full rehabilitation of Brookdale Avenue extending beyond the current, limited scope of work. While this phase focuses on priority improvements between Seventh and Ninth streets, the long-term plan includes more extensive reconstruction, intersection upgrades, and potential changes to the traffic circle. Administration noted the project is being phased due to funding constraints, with remaining work dependent on future funding and council approval.
Councillor Sarah Good raised questions about how much of the original Brookdale Avenue plan can proceed under the current funding and whether the City is maximizing the available grant.
City staff confirmed that the current funding application only covers the section between Seventh and Ninth streets, with future phases, potentially extending further north and including more extensive redesign elements, dependent on additional funding approvals.
After hearing from administration, Good said the approach provides clarity on how the project will move forward in phases.
“This will ensure that we’re meeting the required deadlines to be able to access the funds,” she said. “But we’re basically putting a pause on the project as it was originally proposed.”
The report also notes that due to financial constraints, the existing traffic circle will remain in place for now, rather than being replaced with a roundabout.
Councillor Denis Sabourin raised concerns about the long-term plans for the traffic circle and sought clarification on whether it would remain in future designs. While he attempted to introduce a motion to maintain the current configuration, procedural rules required that it be brought forward separately at a future meeting.
Ultimately, council voted in favour of the procurement, allowing administration to proceed. The actual construction contract for Brookdale Avenue rehabilitation will be tendered at a later date, subject to council approval as part of the City’s 2027 budget.
L’article Traffic circle stays for now in Brookdale Avenue rehabilitation plan est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
