The contract for the construction of Osoyoos’ Legion Beach washroom and multi-use trail has been awarded to Mass Construction Ltd in the amount of $ 648,520, plus applicable taxes. Construction will start on or around April 25 with completion by September 2.
Mayor Sue McKortoff asked whether the construction, which will carry on through the summer, will hinder the use of the beach. Director of Operational Services Jared Brounstein said “it shouldn’t, we’re hoping we can keep it off to the side, to isolate it while it’s being built.”
The project includes an asphalt path running from the new washroom through the underpass. The underpass will be lit and the rest of the path will be serviced for future lighting.
Councillor Brian Harvey queried whether the $648,520 includes landscaping, to which Brounstein indicated that no, it would be coming out of the remainder from the $700,000 grant.
The washroom project has not been without its controversy, however, with the original scope of the project reviewed and ultimately rejected by Council in April of 2021 due to what was seen as an exorbitant cost.
The Town was provided grant funding of $700,000 from the Tourism Dependent Communities Grant Program in the first quarter of 2021 to complete a significant road and waterfront upgrade at Legion Beach.
After rejecting the first proposal, Council asked staff to review the possibility of significantly changing the scope of the project with the province. The idea was to use some of the funds to make some improvements to the Legion Beach area including a new washroom facility, multi-use trail, lighting, park furniture and some landscaping.
The province subsequently reviewed and approved the Town’s request to utilize the $700,000 to make the improvements listed above to Legion Beach. The Negotiated Request for Proposal (NRFP) received two proposals from Redline Contracting and Mass Construction.
