City makes decision on contract for creek bank rehabilitation work
The City of Swift Current has identified three areas where creek bank rehabilitation will be carried out in 2024 as part of an annual program.
Council members received a report and approved the 2024 creek bank rehabilitation contract during a special council meeting, April 11.
City General Manager of Infrastructure Greg Parsons provided details about the program and the tender process.
The Swift Current Creek meanders over a distance of approximately 14.5 kilometres through the city. Snow melt, rainfall events and releases from the Duncairn Dam can change water levels in the creek.
“In high flow events, the creek bank occasionally erodes in localized areas and creates failures,” he said. “These failures could pose threats to the safety of residents and in some cases the failures encroach on City infrastructure.”
The purpose of the annual rehabilitation program is to address potential safety concerns and to avoid any damage to infrastructure. The work will typically involve the excavation of failed slope material, adding and compacting new soil material, and installing geotextile fabric and rip rap (rock material) to stabilize the slope and prevent future erosion.
The City identified three locations along the creek where rehabilitation work will be carried out under the 2024 program. These eroded areas are situated at Crawford Avenue, South Service Road East and North Hill Drive.
“These locations were deemed priority as they have the potential to undermine the pathway adjacent to the bank,” he said. “The scope of work for all three locations is the same, which includes slope grading, installation of geosynthetic fabric, installation of rip rap and landscape restoration.”
He noted that the City already submitted the required applications or notifications of work to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Saskatchewan Water Security Agency, and it is approved.
“Any work that takes place within the vicinity of a waterway has a high environmental impact and therefore must adhere to stringent regulations,” he explained. The City received seven submissions on a request for proposals for the 2024 creek rehabilitation program, but five were over budget and they were not considered. The evaluation criteria were based on unit prices, proposed schedule, work plan and experience.
Council approved the recommendation from City administration to award the contract to Vitae Environmental Ltd. of Pincher Creek in Alberta, which submitted the lowest proposal at $193,572.32 (PST and 10 per cent contingency included, GST excluded).
“Vitae Environmental Ltd. has experience with large jobs of a similar nature and a strong knowledge of environmental requirements,” Parsons said. “Their past work experience with the City was a very positive one. Vitae Environmental Ltd. also provided a well laid out work plan and schedule and therefore they were graded the highest of the two remaining bids.”