The Portage la Prairie City Council awarded the contract for the Crescent Lake Causeway to the Island Park this afternoon.

Maple Leaf Construction Ltd. has been awarded the contract for the tendered price of $8,186,749.00 without GST.

City Mayor Irvine Ferris explains it's been a long time coming, noting the existing bridge is 90-years-old. He adds an engineering report came out on the current bridge years ago stating the structural integrity of the current bridge was compromised, meaning heavy trucks, for instance, such as fire trucks, could not use it. The council at the time decided to build a temporary causeway that is still being used today.

"Whatever gets built now will be with our community for 100 years or so," says Ferris.

Ferris adds a lot of work has gone into the planning with the causeway. So, it happens and happens right.

Councillor and Transportation Chair Ryan Espey explains it's going to be a very good day when there is actual action on the ground. He adds this has been a long process, but it's been a transparent one.

"This has all be done very much out in the open," says Espey. "It's been very educational and enjoyable. There have been mixed feelings throughout the community on certain aspects of the project but we landed on the right one, and it's great to see it going forward."

Espey explains why Maple Leaf Construction was chosen.

"There are two criteria:  10 per cent sustainability, and 90 per cent price. The big difference here was price, where Maple Leaf Construction came in significantly under the other two bidders."

A timeline for the project will come in the coming weeks. A communications plan is being created to relay information to the public regarding traffic and such.

To read the full report to council, please click here.