The shovels will hit the ground no sooner than July 6 for the reconstruction of Petrolia Line.

Petrolia Council accepted the lowest bid for the first half of the project from Birnam Excavating of Warwick. The company has worked for numerous Lambton County municipalities including Plympton-Wyoming, Lambton Shores, Sarnia and St. Clair Township and most recently completed the reconstruction of Princess Street in Petrolia.

Birnam’s bid of just over $2.3 million was the lowest of five received by June 4. The highest was from OMEGA for over $1.1 million more.

Mike Thompson, director of operations, says the difference, in part could be attributed to the distance of the other contractors would have to bring equipment to the site.

The contract covers the first year of construction. Petrolia Line from Bear Creek to Tank Street first and then to Fletcher Street which runs between the Petrolia Library and Helen’s Hideway.

The entire project is expected to cost about $4.5 million.

Thompson says Birnam has a vast amount of experience and CIMA+, the town’s engineering firm, recommended the company after working on the Princess Street project.

Thompson acknowledge there may be a public perception the company did not complete the work as they should but he says the Princess Street project was primarily delayed because of an early frost and a long winter. “CIMA was happy with the job done on Princess Street,” he told councillors Monday.

“The contractor doesn’t have much control over the weather,” added Mayor John McCharles. “And most people don’t like construction in front of their house anyway. The end product is Princess Street is in great shape.”

While the final date has yet to be confirmed, Thompson says it is likely construction will begin in late July.

“Hopefully, things go well,” says McCharles “and we’ll do everything in our power to make it happen.”