Summary#
Montréal city council adopted a decision to award Gérald Théorêt inc. a contract for sewer, water-main and road work on Rochon and Crevier streets in Saint-Laurent. The stated goal is to replace deteriorated infrastructure and improve the street layout for pedestrians.
- The city awarded the contract to the lowest compliant bidder and authorized total spending of $7,016,750.37, taxes included.
- The work includes replacing sewer and water pipes, rebuilding or resurfacing roads, repairing sidewalks, and replacing about four private-side lead water-service connections.
- The street changes include narrowing the roadway to 8.4 metres, widening sidewalks to 1.8 metres, and adding planted curb extensions at the south intersection of Crevier and Rochon.
- The council also ordered an evaluation of Gérald Théorêt inc.’s performance.
What it means for you#
- People who use Rochon and Crevier: The streets, sidewalks and underground pipes will be worked on and rebuilt. The decision does not give a construction schedule.
- Property owners with private lead water connections: About four private-side connections are included for replacement. Earlier city decisions say owners were to reimburse the city for private-side replacements, but the materials do not confirm whether that applies to these four connections.
- Residents and road users: The planned layout gives more space to sidewalks and adds planted curb extensions. The decision does not set out how traffic or access will be managed during construction.
Money#
The decision authorizes total spending of $7,016,750.37, taxes included.
- This is made up of $5,852,168.79 for the contract, $585,216.88 for contingencies, and $579,364.70 for incidental costs.
- The public call for tenders received 14 bids. Gérald Théorêt inc.’s compliant bid was the lowest and was 27.92% below the city’s estimate of $8,119,217.57.
- The materials do not give the expected cost of replacing the four private-side lead connections separately.
What is unclear#
- The contract’s duration and construction schedule are not stated.
- The materials do not explain whether owners will be charged for the private-side lead-connection replacements in this project.
- The decision refers to financial information in the file, but the materials provided do not identify which city budgets will pay the costs.
Case for#
- City staff say inspections found the sewer in very poor condition and identified the sewer and water pipes for replacement as a priority.
- The tender attracted 14 bids, and the winning compliant bid was below the city’s estimate.
- The work combines underground repairs with road, sidewalk and pedestrian-safety changes.
Case against#
- City staff note that the winning bid’s prices for site costs, soil handling and traffic safety were unusually low compared with their estimates or historical averages. That raises a question about whether those prices will be enough to deliver the work as planned.
- The decision authorizes contingency and incidental-cost budgets, but the materials do not say whether these will be needed or how much will ultimately be spent.