Local View
A look at what’s happening in Esquimalt Page A19
NEWS: Pharmacists explore DNA project /A3 SPORTS: Cougars’ season closes /A12 SENiORS: Preventing eye damage during aging /A16
VICTORIANEWS Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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Additional $4.8 million recommended for bridge Andrea Peacock Victoria News
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Eye on the Prize
Victoria Cougar Brett Lervold tries to deflect the puck past Campbell River Storm goalie Jesse Michel during the first period of game number three of their VIJHL Championship Series at the Archie Browning Sports Centre. Despite another stand-out season, the Cougars couldn’t edge past a strong Campbell River squad, losing the series 4-0.
MUCH MORE THAN A WIG
The cost of the Johnson Street Bridge will increase by $4.8 million if council approves a recommendation by staff. A report from the director of engineering and public works, going to council on Thursday, says the additional funds are for increased costs due to schedule delays and additional legal costs for external legal advice and participation in mediation. This increase would bring the budget for the bridge to $97.6 million. The original budget was estimated at $63 million. Coun. Ben Isitt, said he will not be supporting the $4.8 million expense. “I think the project has been subject to a lack of financial controls from the very outset, and I still don’t have enough certainty in what the end game looks like to be able to approve any additional allocation.” Before he will consider approving the request, Isitt said questions still need to be answered regarding the seismic standard of the new bridge. Mayor Lisa Helps said this request for more money is not a surprise. “I voted against the budget originally, because I had a sense that the contingency budget was too small for such a large project at only four per cent.” If approved, the total contingency would increase to 7.5 per cent. Helps said she will be supporting the recommendation because she wants to keep the project moving forward. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s not really optional. If we vote against it, then we put the project at a standstill, and the project was already at a standstill for 15 months, so I’m not willing to do that again,” she said. “I think it’s really important to keep this project limping along, moving forward.”
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PLEASE SEE: Bridge Page A4