Vote to reconsider roundabout design work contract falls at Fort Frances council
A proposed roundabout for the Central Avenue, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets intersection will likely be left to the next council to determine.
A motion to reconsider Fort Frances Council’s previous decision not to award a contract for the design work failed at this week’s council meeting.
Administration says Council’s rejection of the contract in April provided no clear direction on how to proceed, leaving it, the Ministry of Transportation, and the KGS Group, the only group to bid on the project, in limbo.
Operations and Facilities Manager Travis Rob says the need to bring the intersection up to provincial standards remains.
“Administration has been raising concerns about the condition of the town traffic signal system since 2017,” says Rob.
“We have been able to do some work. However, what is left for traffic signals is complicated and expensive. Meaning that we need to utilize grant programs to be able to finish up the remaining signal replacement.”
A report identified the cost of bringing the intersection up to standards with new traffic lights to be about $3 million.
Estimates put a roundabout at between $3.9 to $4.7 million.
While the project is included in the 2026 budget, Council remains split on the project.
The biggest concern is the cost and the potential of them ballooning when tenders are sought.
The tender for the design work came in 5% higher than projected.
There is also strong public opinion against a roundabout, expressing concern with traffic heading to the U.S. border and the potential of eastbound traffic backing up at the traffic lights at 2nd and Mowatt Ave., a short distance away.
During discussions last November, Rob indicated that completion of the design work would help the town better determine how to proceed.
Chief Administrative Officer Marcel Michaels says Council’s decision will likely put the issue onto the shoulders of a new council next year.
“We’ll have to wait until the next council to retender this specifically to this one group, the only bidder to do so again,” says Michaels.
“But who knows what that outcome would be with the future council.”
