Forks Road Bridge is coming down.

And Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche calls it the first step in moving forward in Dain City.

"It's a tough first step ." Larouche said Tuesday night as he urged his fellow councillors to endorse a staff report for the demolition contract.

Schouten Excavating Inc. of Waterford will carry out the demolition work for $988,750. It was one of four companies that bidded for the job to completely remove the bridge over the former Welland Canal by May 31 of this year.

The bridge was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic in late 2018 due to the structure deteriorating quicker than anticipated even after repairs in 2016. A report said the structure could also collapse any time in the next 18 months.

The total cost of demolition is estimated to be $1.14 million, with contingency and inspection fees are factored in. An original estimate put the cost of demolition at $2.5 million.

Schouten was the lowest bidder, followed by Rankin Construction at $1.2 million, FACCA Inc. at $1.9 million and Tri-Phase Contracting at $3.4 million.

Chris Anders, Welland's manager of engineering services, said it's an open market and contractors bid based on what they feel the job and cost are worth to carry out.

Anders said Schouten plans to put the centre span on a barge and float it to one side of the waterway and dismantle it.

He said the methodology being used by Schouten was consistent with what other bidders were proposing.

"We're confident in their methodology. We did check their references . and their subcontractors are very well known," Anders said, adding the company is currently demolishing Port Colborne's water tower and has torn down schools, other structures and a bridge in its past.

Council also heard there were mandatory on-site meetings with those who were bidding on the project so they would understand what they were dealing with.

Ward 5 Coun. Graham Speck said there was a lot of social media chatter about the bridge and its removal, with people suggesting the scrap value of the metal would pay for its removal.

"If it did, we'd be taking it down ourselves," said Mayor Frank Campion in response.

Anders told council that Schouten would own the metal from the job but said the city had asked for pieces to build a monument.

The city will take $575,775 from an operating surplus fund and another $565,525 from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) program.

Chief financial officer Steve Zorbas said the city would be getting an increase this year and he recommended using the 2019 funds to pay for the bridge instead of taking it all from the operating surplus. He said there would be no OMPF money in 2020.

Schouten has until May 1 to remove the centre span, a 'drop dead deadline' and until May 14 to remove the approach spans on both sides of the waterway.

The centre span work must be completed before the start of South Niagara Rowing Club's season on the waterway. Anders said the contractor will co-ordinate with the club. No one will be allowed under the bridge before the centre span is removed.

"I'm quite confident they can hit the deadlines," said Anders.

Anders said the city always includes a 10 per cent contingency fund plan in its contracts for any unforeseen problems. He said if the funds aren't used, they go back into city coffers.

He also said inspection fees of $35,000 are for engineering oversight, which will be carried out by Ellis Engineering. Ellis, he said, has been carrying out inspections of the bridge since it was downloaded to the city in 2000 and are quite familiar with the structure.

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Nathaniel.Johnson@niagaradailies.com

905-684-7251 | @DaveJTheTrib