By Mark Squibb/November 25, 2021
Mount Pearl council voted unanimously last week to apply for $7.5 million in federal infrastructure funding for two city roads in bad need of repairs.
Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Green Infrastructure fund, the City is applying for replacement of the water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, asphalt, curb and sidewalk on Barbour Drive at a cost of $4 million and for the same scope of work at St. Andrews Avenue at a cost of $3.5 million. Barber Drive was listed as priority number one.
Mayor Dave Aker asked director of infrastructure and public works Gerry Antle what distinguished the two roads that one would be given a higher priority, and inquired whether both roads are overdue for work under the City’s asset management plan.
Antle admitted both roads are beyond service life, the underground in particular, and that both roads are badly in need of work, above other roads in the asset management plan.
Councilor Jim Locke asked, for the interest of the public, what the cost to the City would be should the applications be approved.
Antle replied that the city’s potion would be 30 percent of the total cost.
The deadline to apply was November 19.
