Stalled road work resumes in Point Edward

Work has resumed on a stalled road construction project in Point Edward.

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But how much of it will be finished, when, and at what cost still needs to be worked out, the village’s top bureaucrat says.

“We’re still working on final agreements,” chief administrator Jim Burns said about negotiations with Cope Construction.

Hopes are to have those details hammered out soon, he said.

Work resumed Monday, in the meantime, on the project to rebuild Lite and St. Clair streets in phases, including water main replacement, between Front Street and Michigan Avenue.

Cope is working to finish the first of four phases, started by former contractor McNally Excavating Ltd. in the spring, but stalled amid safety concerns and Ministry of Labor visits.

That included the ministry issuing three orders in June to the contractor and work shutting down temporarily, before Point Edward and McNally parted ways in July.

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Ministry officials have declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation.

The project, driven by the need to replace an old water main that’s been prone to breaking, Burns has said, and that includes a new sidewalk, new multi-purpose path on the south and southwest side, new curbs and gutters, some storm main repairs, and new trees, initially was contracted to McNally for $6 million.

It’s good news work has been summarized, even before negotiations are complete, Burns said.

“People want to see the project get completed, so I think it’s good that they’re out there working at this point,” he said about Cope.

“I think it’s a sign that we are going to get something done here fairly soon.”

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