Mackenzie Beach Road is set for significant changes in 2024.
Tofino’s municipal council has awarded Windley Contracting with a $1.53 million contract for a project that will see the road paved and a turn around loop added.
During council’s Dec. 12 regular meeting, the district’s engineering project coordinator Pavel Fetisov noted the paving project was first introduced in 2022.
“The condition of the road is a source of various complaints from both visitor and resident populations,” Fetisov said. “Dust is an environmental concern and has negative impacts on the adjacent fish bearing creeks and wetlands.”
He added that a new addition to Tofino’s Multi-Use Path would improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
The project includes paving the entire road, a delineated MUP, replacement of culverts and drainage infrastructure as well as a public beach access and turn around loop.
“The turn around loop will allow for access to buses and public parking,” he said, adding a raised asphalt crosswalk and signage at the end of the loop as well as various wheelchair ramps will also be part of the project. He said water and sewer connection will be included for future washroom facilities.
The district received three bids for the contract, with Windley Contracting submitting the lowest price at $1.53 million, followed by Hazelwood Construction Services at $1.67 million and Gibson Bros Contracting at $2.13 million.
The total estimated cost for the project is around $2 million, including $390,000 of contingency funds and about $10,000 for an environmental impact study in partnership with Redd Fish Restoration Society.
The district plans to fund the project with roughly $1.2 million coming from its Capital and Infrastructure levy, $115,000 from Development Cost Charges coffers, $335,000 from Resort Municipality Initiative funding and $440,775 from a BC Active Transportation and Infrastructure grant.
Coun. Tom Stere asked about the contingency costs, suggesting the amount seemed high.
Fetisov responded that environmental factors led to the recommendation of a 23 per cent contingency.
“This area has very sensitive habitats. There is a fish bearing wildlife creek. This road has been unpaved for several years and we have done dust mitigation measures, which have put chemicals into the soil, just mild ones, so we need to ensure that we can do this in accordance with all regulations and that any unforeseen costs are covered as a result of that,” he said.
Council unanimously voted in favour of awarding the $1.53 million contract to Windley.
“I’m very happy to see this going ahead,” said mayor Dan Law. “Thank you for all the hard work on this.”
The project is expected to begin this month and be completed by April, 2024.
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