Montreal is spending millions more than it expected on policing this year, not because of any dramatic increase in crime, but because of construction.

The police department budgeted less than $2.5 million to have officers direct traffic and control lights in construction zones.

The cost this year has ballooned to $13.8 million -- all from officers earning overtime.

The police department refuses to let officers do traffic control as part of their regular duty, and so officers who are directing traffic are working overtime at more than $60 per hour.

Mayor Denis Coderre said the city is looking at cheaper alternatives, such as having cadets do the task, but is being stonewalled by the police union.

"You have a fraternity who's playing games, so we are under mediation right now. When we'll have the new bargaining agreement, clearly this is one of it," said Coderre. "We can use cadets. There's millions of ways to proceed."

Negotiations between the city and the police brotherhood are going very slowly. They stalled in the spring and have been taking place under arbitration since May.

The police union would not return calls to CTV Montreal.

Montreal has budgeted $6 million for overtime pay for police officers directing traffic next year, even though it has acknowledged there will be more construction in 2017 than in 2016.

Projet Montreal has frequently criticized Montreal for having police earning overtime pay to direct traffic, especially when other cities have the job done by civilians.

Montreal police argue Quebec's Highway Safety Code bans non-police officers from directing traffic.