Smithers Town Council budgeted for $100,000 and they hit that mark with MTR Utility Maintenace for the Main Street Water Main Replacement Project.
MTR is based out of Smithers and was awarded the project after a bid of $88,867.87  and includes an 11% contingency plan.
The work will be taking place just off Main Street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Ave, wedged into some residential area.
“It’s a relatively routine project, however, it’s our first major project with the Town of Smithers,” says MTR Project Manager Brad Vandergaag ” “As area residents for quite some time, we are happy to give back to our community.”
PVC pipe will be replacing 60-year-old cast iron pipes for the residential area that require heavy maintenance says Smithers Mayor, Taylor Bachrach.
“This is roughly a 60-meter area that has given our staff problems for quite some time. This sort of annual maintenance is our way of ensuring our water and sewer infrastructure doesn’t fail us when we need it most. The work is local and MTR is local, it’s a win-win.”
MTR was one of three companies to bid, narrowly edging out LB Paving who are also from Smithers with a bid of $89,389.17, and Progressive Ventures out of Terrace had the highest project estimate at $114,716.10.
So when will the work be taking place?
“There’s no set timetable yet,” says Vandergaag “Now that the contract is awarded, we will work this into our schedule. The project will take nearly two weeks to complete and we know it has to be finished by September at the latest.”
Vandergaag ensures when the work takes place, there will be little to no water disruption for area residents.
The street view of where the work will be taking place can be found here.Â