Discovery of underground cable edges up cost of Paradise W&S job

By Mark Squibb

Paradise council this May voted to temporarily move an underground power line to make way for water and sewer upgrades along Windmill Road.
Councillor Tommy Maher explained that, as a part of Dexter Construction’s pre-construction work, an underground utility survey was conducted by Newfoundland Power and that an underground power line crossing Windmill Road was discovered.
“This underground service was unknown at the time the contract was awarded, and no identification of this underground service was identified,” said Maher, who added that in order for water and sewer upgrades on Windmill Road to be completed, the buried utility service must be temporarily moved and reinstated. This will be done at a cost of $11,248, HST included.
It’s the second additional charge for the project. When the water and sewer project was initially awarded, the price tag was $869,719, plus HST. However, an addition had to be made to that job, involving the installation of a new box culvert at a further cost of $233,680, plus HST.
The moving of the power line will cost a lot less than that, but is equally necessary.
Maher, who has worked in construction for decades, said he was concerned by the fact that power lines were overlooked, and wondered why neither of the contractors bidding on the work had touched base with Newfoundland Power prior to bidding.
Engineering Director Chris Milley said that ‘dialing before you dig’ is a preconstruction, not pre-tender or pre-design step. Bids, said Miller, were based on the tender package provided by the Town, which did not include moving the power line. The director added that it’s very unusual for domestic power lines to cross a public road.
“It’s very strange,” said Milley. “It was really unexpected. We would not have expected to see that before the ‘dial before you dig’ call was made.”
Councillor Glen Carew pointed out that there seems to be more and more areas around town, particularly newer developments, serviced by buried electrical lines, and wondered whether residents shouldn’t call Newfoundland Power prior to constructing even smaller things such as fences.
Councillor Larry Vaters asked how council could avoid such a scenario in the future, suggesting staff could phone NL Power before releasing the tender package, or ask those bidding to contact NL Power themselves.
Director Milley said he would look into the matter further.