Bids to build new transit terminal come in higher than expected

The cost to renovate 111 Huron St. into Sault Ste. Marie's new downtown transit terminal may be more than city officials were counting on.

At a tender opening on Tuesday afternoon, two bids were received.

Low bidder was Mike Moore Construction Ltd. of Sault Ste. Marie, at $3,714,000.

High bidder was another Sault firm, S&T Electrical Contracting Ltd., at $4,727,813.

Cost estimates presented at a July 12, 2021 council meeting were as follows:

• renovate 111 Huron Street – $2.16 million
• new terminal in the existing Dennis Street site – $2.33 million
• restoration of existing terminal - $972,720

The low bid from Mike Moore is more than $1.5 million higher than the city's estimated cost of renovating its Huron Street bus barns.

But Tessa Vecchio, the city's corporate communications officer, tells SooToday the 2021 estimate didn't include abatement of designated substances, potential structural upgrades and furniture, fixtures and equipment.

"A number of tenders have been impacted by COVID and the current climate for input materials and labour in the industry," Vecchio says.

The city is under no obligation to accept the low bid, or any bid.

Final decision lies with city council, which will receive a report shortly.