“It’s just what big business is doing,” he said. “They’re trying to look after the bottom line and look after their shareholders, and we have to look after our shareholders, which is the taxpayers.” – Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs, Chronicle Journal April 10, 2013
Manshield Construction was awarded a no bid $3.2 million contract that includes completing the paving of Sleeping Giant Parkway.
The existing curb and gutter (c&g) has taken a beating over the last year and a half. The asphalt shows signs of major distress in a few areas.
The stretch of Parkway in front of the big pit has no curb and gutter at all. Oh, the curb and gutter was installed there but that c&g broke off when the shoulder failed. Everything started to slide into the pit. Double payment here.
Brook McIlroy has also received a no bid contract? to design this. I wonder just how this damaged c&g will affect the paving operation? Some lengths of c&g need to be replaced, plain and simple. Once again, double payment.
It will be interesting to see what happens. I will keep you posted.
Not sure how anyone was looking out for the taxpayers best interests here. If someone was, the second layer of asphalt would have been placed immediately after the first layer for the entire length of the parkway. Why this was not done makes no sense. Delaying the placement of the second (surface) layer of asphalt allowed the c&g to become damaged.
What will the final c&g/paving product look like?
Something like this. Nice huh? Thunder Bay’s crown jewel alright.
