MANITOULIN—The contract has now been awarded for the work that will commence very soon on two Manitoulin Island lighthouses in need of major repairs.

“The successful bidder on this tender is Collaborative Structures Limited, based out of Cambridge, Ontario,” said Rosaleen O’Mahony last week.

Work will take place at the Mississagi Strait lighthouse (in Meldrum Bay) and Janet Head lighthouse in Gordon.

As was reported previously, the repairs required are as follows: new cedar shingles, metal roof assembly repairs, flashing repairs, chimney reconstruction, miscellaneous trim repairs, repaint cast iron panels, replacement of glass panes, interior and exterior cleaning to lantern room, new siding and underlayment, painting, perimeter structural wood beam investigation, repair of stone foundation, repointing mortar joints, damp proofing and installation of foundation drainage barrier and weeping tiles, various wood window and door repairs and or replacement, scraping/sanding/painting, vinyl window repairs, repair of interior plaster, repairs and modifications to railings and stairs, regrading.”

The work is slated to take 10 weeks on the lighthouses and be completed this fall. The major construction work on the lighthouses is expected to start after Labour Day.