The cost of the new Johnson Street Bridge has gone up once again.
The project manager in charge of the long-delayed and over-budget project said Wednesday he is preparing to request another budget increase from the city – but won’t estimate how high the final cost will be.
“We’ll likely be back for further funds in the not very distant future,” Jonathan Huggett said in an interview with CFAX 1070. “You know that there’s the fendering issue out there, which I’ve said before is very substantial.”
The fenders are shields for the bridge’s support beams to ensure they won’t be damaged by passing vessels.
Huggett did not clarify why the fender costs were not in the original budget.
A July estimate put the cost of the state-of-the-art lift bridge at about $97-million, but on Wednesday, Huggett confirmed the total will likely surpass $100-million.
The original budget was pegged at $63-million.
City councillors said they’re not happy with the expected increase and will closely scrutinize any request for more funding.
“Council has said this is too much, it’s too high, and we need to have tight reigns on the project,” said Coun. Jeremy Loveday. “That’s why for every increase, no matter how small, Mr. Huggett has to come back to council and make that ask for that money, and we’ll be looking at every item, line by line, to make sure that we’re keeping as tight of reigns on this project as possible.”
Though it was initially projected to be completed by the end of September this year, the project has fallen another month or two behind schedule – meaning it won’t be completed until at least the end of 2017.
The new bridge has been plagued by problems including issues with steel fabrication in China that pushed construction back by 10 months.
Huggett’s latest report will go to council on Nov. 19.
