Ottawa Construction News staff writer
Construction on a major wastewater project in Belleville’s west end is scheduled to begin Sept. 1, with the first phase expected to continue through the end of 2028.
The Avonlough Sewage Pumping Station project is intended to provide wastewater capacity for future development in the Loyalist West Belleville Secondary Plan area, which the city says could eventually accommodate about 9,000 housing units.
The first phase is divided into two contracts.
Contract 1 includes construction of a new sewage pumping station and installation of twin sanitary forcemains connecting the station to the western limits of Contract 2.
Work at the pumping station site will include foundations and other site works, as well as installation of a sanitary sewer forcemain connecting the station to the Bridge Street West and Marshall Road area.
Construction along Bridge Street West between Marshall Road and Palmer Road will include installation of a sanitary sewer forcemain, asphalt resurfacing, curb replacement and boulevard restoration.
The broader project also includes additional watermain, storm sewer and road improvements, including work at several intersections along Bridge Street West.
Contract 2 will include installation of conveyance piping along Bridge Street West to the existing pipe crossing of the Moira River.
The existing wastewater system does not have sufficient capacity to accommodate planned growth in the west end. Once fully built out, the new infrastructure is expected to provide wastewater capacity of about 490 litres per second.
The project has an estimated overall cost of about $85 million, up from $38.1 million due to design changes, updated cost estimates, schedule extensions and construction cost escalation.
Belleville has received $16.155 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The Avonlough project is part of the city’s long-term plan to provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate residential and commercial growth in west Belleville.
