Belleville’s final revitalization phase in the downtown is set to go, with the contractor hired by city council Monday night.
There were some objections.
Len Corcoran Excavation, which undertook the first two phases, was the only bidder on the last phase of the project.
This final tender was for $13.3 million with HST, bringing the the whole project to $34 million.
Councillor Paul Carr, one of three councillors who voted against it, told Quinte News there should have been a draft budget with a “close as possible figure.”
Mayor Taso Christopher said it’s within council’s established budget. He said he has learned that municipalities in the Greater Toronto area are paying “triple-digit millions for such work.”
He said Belleville’s success “sends a message across eastern Ontario to concentrate on the city centres.”
He also commended the downtown for being “patient.”
The final vote was 6-to-3, with Councillors Carr, Mitch Panciuk and Kelly McCaw voting against.
Phase 3 runs on Front Street from Bridge Street to Dundas Street and involves work on the streets around Market Square.
The project involves replacement of water and sanitary sewer systems as well as the road and sidewalk work.
