ERIN – The Town of Erin’s big project is moving forward to its next phase and traffic disruptions are expected on Main Street, Trafalgar Road and Wellington Road 52 in the near future.
An update given to the County of Wellington’s roads committee by Erin infrastructure director Nick Colucci indicates micro-tunnelling is set to begin this month through Main Street in Erin for the Erin village gravity sewer and last about a year. Lane closures are in effect.
This is part of the long planned Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant — which is encompassed by the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), a pumping station and building primary sewer lines — which outgoing Erin mayor Allan Alls noted will be coming in at a much higher price tag than earlier estimates.
“The cost on this has gone from $114 million to actually over $200 million,” Alls said at the meeting.
Alls was referring to a cost estimate from a 2018 environmental assessment.
In March, Erin council approved a bid to build the WRRF at $114 million and in July linear work for around $40 million and an $11.5 million pumping station in Erin.
Colucci said in a phone interview market conditions and inflation have impacted the total cost.
However, Colucci noted at the meeting $190 million of the project will be paid for by the development community.
The presentation stated the Hillsburgh gravity sewer is set to be constructed starting in April 2023 through to November 2023. This section of Trafalgar Road is anticipated to be closed during this time with traffic detouring around it on Wellington Road 22, Winston Churchill Boulevard and Erin-Garafraxa Townline.
Twin forcemains going to and from the pumping station to the WRRF is expected to start in May and last through September with road or lane closures possible on Main Street and Wellington Road 52 during it.
The town broke ground on the WRRF earlier this year.
The plant and primary sewer lines are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Erin is still seeking provincial funding to help with the cost of connecting to existing residences.
- with files from Jesse Gault, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
