Escalating costs have forced Kennebecasis Valley communities to delay this year’s road projects.

Last week, Quispamsis council voted to reject all bids for this year’s street capital upgrade program.

Gary Losier, the town’s director of engineering and public works, said the lowest tender was $1.3 million over budget.

“We’ll be making additional reports to council on what we would do with the proposed streets for the 2023 capital program, whether that is to carry them over to 2024 or to look at specific streets for repairs,” Losier told council.

“At this time, we didn’t feel it was fiscally responsible to advise to award the project.”

Quispamsis budgeted $2.3 million for capital work in its 2023 budget. The three tenders that came back ranged from $3.6 million to nearly $3.9 million.

Proposed projects for 2023 included upgrades along Ambassador Drive, Brook Street, Cambridge Avenue, Captain Court, Hampton Road, Market Street, Meenans Cove Road, Old Neck Road, Olympic Court, Rynlon Court, and the intersection of Hampton Road and Pettingill Road.

Down the road in Rothesay, council voted this week to cancel its contract for asphalt resurfacing, curb replacement and sidewalk replacement and delay all projects until 2024.

Council had budgeted $1.3 million for the work and the lowest tender came in $600,000 higher at $1.9 million.

Streets that were set to see upgrades this year included Aries Court, Bel Air Avenue, Biscayne Court, Capri Avenue, Charles Crescent, Femwood Lane, McGuire Road, McMackin Lane and Phoenix Court.

Town manager John Jarvie said it was the first time in his experience that the town has been forced to cancel a contract like this.

“Staff looked at reducing the program overall and couldn’t really find a way to do that that would make a whole lot of sense,” said Jarvie.

“We do have some ideas on how we might go forward with this for 2024 and we’ll be bringing some recommendations forward later in the year.”

Jarvie noted that council may have to look at getting its contract out sooner next year. This year, the tender only closed on April 30.

Staff noted that while the streets due to be upgraded this year are considered a priority, deferring the work “will not significantly compromise their use and enjoyment by the motorists and pedestrians.”