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Paradise awards design contract for Octagon Pond crosswalk improvements

By Mark Squibb/January 6, 2023

Paradise council has taken measure to address pedestrian safety on two busy streets.

During the December 20 meeting, councillor Deborah Quilty explained that an engineering study completed in 2022 recommended the addition of a pedestrian median in the existing painted median at 1682 Topsail Road, the crosswalk near the Marie’s Minimart on Octagon Pond.

Council will also be looking at additional safety features for the Paradise Elementary crosswalk along Karwood Drive.

“Traffic calming initiatives at 3 Karwood Drive will be determined through discussions with the successful proponent but may consist of a pedestrian island, raised crosswalk, or some other form of traffic calming measure,” said Quilty. “This will be determined during the concept design phase of the project, and then reviewed by the Infrastructure and Engineering committee prior to detailed engineering.”

Quilty explained that a limited tender call was sent to five qualified engineering firms, and that of those five, two, Pinnacle Engineering and 9028161 Canada Ltd., bid on the project.

The proposals were ranked on technical and financial merits, with the lion’s share (85 percent) of the total score based on financial merits

Pinnacle scored 95.50 out of a possible 100 points, coming in at $11,511, while 9028161 Canada Ltd., scored only 48.21 at a price of $27,025 (although the latter did score a slightly higher technical score of 12 points against Pinnacles 10.5 points.)

Council voted to award the design services for traffic calming measures at 3 Karwood Drive and 1682 Topsail Road to Pinnacle.

Construction is expected to take place during summer of 2023 to avoid school traffic.

Councillor Larry Vaters said he was pleased council was moving ahead with the work.

“Unfortunately, speeding is evident at both of these locations,” said Vaters. “This, coupled with the fact that many people use these crosswalks made it imperative that we find a solution that will curb speeding and make it safer for pedestrians to use.”

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