Blue line Metro extension stalled again due to complexity of project
After decades of discussion and a multitude of government announcements, it seems that the promised blue line extension of the Metro has been delayed again.
Crews have been working for more than a month, moving pipes and cables in preparation for the massive tunnel excavation.
But that hasn't prevented new problems from surfacing when it comes to the timetable for a project that's been in the pipeline since the 1980s, said Eric Alan Caldwell, the Chairperson of the STM.
"The bidders expressed some concern about the delay of execution. The STM had a discussion with them and the conclusion is that we were keeping the right balance for reasonable delays and a reasonable budget," Caldwell said.
As a result, the extension deadline will be pushed back to 2030 instead of 2029.
The STM said the decision came about after discussing the complexity of the project with the bidders.
"In a kind of global economic crisis and how difficult it is with, not fabrics but materials, labour and inflation, I mean it's tough, it is tough to put those big projects out," said the Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante.
Indeed, that is the other key issue, according to the STM, the lengthy process involved with getting large public transit projects off the ground.
"The best practice elsewhere shows us that in a system if you start those discussions earlier between the entrepreneur and the work, you can achieve better results to make sure the project is made on time on budget," said Caldwell.
Quebec's premier, François Legault, and Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault said the government plans to create an agency that will be responsible for figuring out how to best finance major projects.
In the meantime, Guilbault emphasized the extension will happen, just not as quickly as transit users might have hoped.
"The good news is that this extension is due to the fact that we were asked by consortiums and enterprises on the market to adjust to their reality and to be realistic, and so they need more time to be able to table propositions," said Guilbault at the national assembly on Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors concerned about potential spread of bird flu in Canada
H5N1 or avian flu has been detected at dozens of US dairy farms and Canadian experts are urging surveillance on our side of the border too.
There's a limit to how much interest rates in Canada and U.S. can diverge: Macklem
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canadian interest rates don't have to match U.S. or global rates, but there is a limit to how much they can diverge.
TD Bank hit with $9.2M penalty after failing to report suspicious transactions
Canada's financial intelligence agency says it has levied a $9.2-million penalty against The Toronto-Dominion Bank for non-compliance with money laundering and terrorist financing measures as the bank also faces compliance investigations in the U.S.
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Should I invest with a human or a robot? Traditional firms vs. robo-advisors
Investors considering where to park their money have a choice: go with a traditional financial adviser or trust in an algorithm. Here are the pros and cons of both.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Imagine living in a 4-foot body that doesn't develop chronic diseases
Nathaly Paola Castro Torres has a rare disorder called Laron syndrome that is caused by a genetic mutation. It stunts her growth but also provides a hidden silver lining: Her body is protected from chronic diseases such as cancer that often take life away long before old age.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.