Ontario Construction News staff writer
Waterloo council will pay an additional $4 million for the Waterloo Park Improvements – North Shore Silver Lake project, leaving the city with a $14 million price tag.
“Construction costs continue to go upward, with the costs of PPE, demand for construction, and the component costs of construction,” Mayor Dave Jaworsky said at a meeting prior to voting in favour of the increase.
The cost of concrete also impacts the project.
“I know anyone looking at this report on its own is probably going to get some sticker shock,” said Ward 7 Councillor Tenille Bonoguore. “But, as staff have explained in the report and in discussions with me over the past week, there is an overall savings that is quite considerable for all the work that is going on in the park.”
Along with approving the increased cost, council launched the final piece in the reconstruction of Silver Lake has taken a big step forward with Council awarding the work to the north shore of Silver Lake to Gateman-Milloy Inc. for a maximum of $6.7 million. The overall reconstruction will result in a number of significant improvements to Silver Lake and park area, including:
- construction of new boardwalks and a pedestrian bridge adjacent the Grist Mill
- construction of a new Lake cell upstream of the LRT crossing
- dredging and reconfiguration of Lake including hard edge treatments
- earth works and grading of north shore and south shore of Silver Lake
- new focal fountain feature, beach area and seating areas north of Silver Lake
- upgrades to Park Inn area including restoration of the asphalt parking area and updated seating area
- updated and improved lighting along the north shore and around the lake
- new plantings and landscaping around the lake and north shore areas
The third part of the project will turn the north shore into a beach area, among other upgrades and improvements. Construction is expected to be finished late this year.
Savings of around $4.7 million compared to the original estimate of over $18 million in 2019 when staff divided the grand renovation into three parts to be bid on separately, and managed to save that money as a result Bottom of Form
In 2018, a Class Environmental Assessment Study was completed on Waterloo Park – Silver Lake and Laurel Creek to determine the preferred rehabilitation option. The environmental assessment recommended improvements to Laurel Creek upstream of Silver Lake and improvements to Silver Lake. A portion of Waterloo Park is also being reconstructed as part of the overall project.
Channel improvements along Laurel Creek from the LRT tracks to University Avenue will be done to improve fish habitat, terrestrial ecology, the vegetative community and to reduce erosion. Silver Lake improvements will include removal of the accumulated sediment, reconfiguration of the shoreline and construction of a new upstream lake cell.
Waterloo Park improvements will include new walkways, lighting, amenities, features of interest and improved pedestrian circulation.