Kneehill County council was presented with a request to transfer funds from the Bridge Reserve to cover additional costs to replace the Hesketh bridge and adjust another bridge within the county during the regular Tuesday, June 22 council meeting.
Director of Transportation Brad Buchert noted the Hesketh bridge replacement was budgeted at $1.3 million in September 2020 and the tender for replacement was awarded to Formula Alberta Ltd. Upon geotechnical investigation, it was determined the structure would require longer pile depths-a cost not factored into the original budget.
“They (Formula) identified the mudstone layer is not very deep, so this structure is going to need piers,” Buchert said during the meeting.
He noted a total of 14 piles would need to be drilled in the streambed.
Currently, construction is on hold until after July 15 due to potential fish spawning activity in the waterway and Buchert noted the additional work is not estimated to cause delays.
“We’re trying to get it done prior to harvest so nobody has to use the lower creek crossing,” Buchert said. He added the replacement is estimated to take a month and a half to complete.
Mr. Buchert also made a presentation requesting an additional $40,000 be transferred from the Bridge Reserve to cover the purchase and installation of an additional girder for a bridge east of Range Road 25-1 and Township Road 33-4, north of Curlew.
When the bridge was reconstructed in March 2020, the girder was installed lower in the stream bed by the contractor. Following spring melt and other weather related impacts to the stream’s water flow, it was questioned whether the position of the girders would be effective.
“The contractor is willing to come back out, at no cost, to lift (the girder) an additional two feet,” Buchert said.
Buchert noted the contractor has agreed to install an additional girder to the south side of the bridge and the $40,000 will be used to purchase and transport the girder from Blackfalds.
The two requests to transfer a total of $140,000 from the Bridge Reserve were carried unanimously by council.