During the August 26 Regular Council Meeting, a Request for Decision was presented to Council, outlining five submissions for the Request for Proposal for the Bridge 11 Replacement Project. All received submissions were technically compliant and evaluated based on experience, the project manager and team, and an overall understanding of the project's scope, schedule, and cost.
The design-build proposal allowed the contractors to propose how to construct the bridge, resulting in significant cost savings. With a design and construction budget of $1.4 million, Sure Seal Contracting's proposal was both economical and technically sound.
Mayor Colberg expressed gratitude for the Town’s Infrastructure Services’ efforts in developing a cost-effective solution.
"We pushed back when this proposal initially came to us in September of 2022. We could not have the taxpayers carry the load of that cost at the time. This is a huge success for our Infrastructure Services Department in developing a cost-effective solution,” she said.
The plan for the bridge includes a new single-lane bridge deck and changes to the approaches while maintaining the iconic charm of the 10X bridge and road system. It will not require a double-lane bridge, and the proposed plan includes extensions past the current abutments that will not impact the river, facilitating an expedited process. Design work is underway, and construction is set to begin in Spring 2025, taking approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.
The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program partially supports funding for this project. The Local Road Bridge (STIP-LRB) grant application was approved, with the province covering approximately 75% of the total project cost and the Town of Drumheller and Wheatland County contributing approximately 21% and 4%, respectively.
