Ontario Construction News Staff Writer
North Bay City Council has awarded a $1.9-million contract to EllisDon Corporation for the improvements to the Booth Road and Lakeshore Drive intersection. The total cost of the project is approximately $2.17 million, including consulting, engineering, and construction expenses.
The upgrades are necessary to address growing traffic demands along Lakeshore Drive, particularly in light of the anticipated traffic increase linked to the development of the new North Bay Community and Recreation Centre. Construction and blasting work at the site have already been underway for several weeks.
EllisDon, the firm behind the design and construction of the new complex at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex, was chosen through a single-source procurement process. This approach was selected due to EllisDon’s ongoing involvement in the major construction project of the community center, ensuring better coordination between both developments.
According to a staff report, the project aims to convert the Booth Road and Lakeshore Drive intersection into a signalized junction, with dedicated signalized crossings for pedestrians and active transportation users. These changes will help manage both current traffic conditions and future increases expected from the opening of the new community center.
City staff explained that awarding the contract to EllisDon will mitigate risks for both the intersection work and the community center development. The design-builder will oversee both projects, ensuring coordinated construction timelines and unified risk management.
“The transformation of this intersection is not just an infrastructure upgrade but a strategic enhancement aligned with the city’s growth and safety needs,” Lori Jackson, manager of purchasing wrote in a report to council. “Having one entity responsible for both projects will ensure the works are properly coordinated and minimize conflicts between the two developments.”
The city also noted that the contract pricing was reviewed internally, ensuring it was fair and reasonable. The quote was assessed against recent tender pricing and adjusted for the Building Construction Price Index.
Financial details outlined in the staff report show that funding for the project is covered by Capital Project No. 4025RD, with an initial budget of $1.5 million. However, an additional $670,000 is required to complete the work, including the contract balance, non-rebated HST, and engineering fees. This additional funding has been included in the 2025 General Capital Budget, with approval for a pre-commitment against the budget as authorized in RTC CORP 2024-100.
The $63-million North Bay Community and Recreation Centre, which includes a twin-pad arena, was approved in November 2024, with a groundbreaking ceremony held in December. The project has received over $35 million in federal funding, supporting more than half of the costs.
