Sault bridge plaza project could be facing further delays: Federal Bridge Corp. re-tendering admin building contract.

• Author: Ross, Ian

Federal Bridge Corporation has decided to re-tender a contract for a second phase of the reconstruction efforts at the Sault Ste. Marie bridge plaza.

Andre Girard, the spokesman for the Crown agency overseeing the $51.6-million project on the Canadian side of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, said engineers had concerns about the bids received over the summer that involved proposed construction of a new administration building and inspection area for Canada Border Services Agency.

"We went to tender and it came up way too high. so we had to re-tender."

Girard said it is not Federal Bridge policy to identify the bidding companies, but sources told Northern Ontario Business that the three bidders were Ellis-Don, Double Century Group and LP Ciminelli.

Girard gave no date when the re-tendering process might take place or how it might impact the project's overall timelines.

Last spring, Girard told SooToday.com, a local media outlet, that the plaza's completion date was set for spring 2017. He declined to say if the corporation has set a new date.

"Right now that phase is slightly delayed because of the tender. But it's not a bank account, it's a budget given to us by the federal government. The tender's too high. We just can't do it," he said.

"We'll take the time required. But there's not much happening anyway in the winter.

"If we change the specs the tendering will be different and the timeline as well. It's too early at this point (to give a date).

"The project will be completed when it's completed."

Girard said work on a new duty-free store and maintenance garage is "pretty close to being finished."

He pointed to construction photos recently posted on the Federal Bridge blog. "You can see it's progressing well."

In November 2013, George Stone and Sons, a Sault contractor, was awarded a $10.9-million contract, known as Package B, to build the retail store, garage and widen a ramp connecting the plaza to the Carmen's Way truck route.

Package A is the administration building and vehicle, truck and bus inspection area.

Girard was unable to say if any major design changes for the plaza are in the offing when the next phase is re-tendered.

"How can we tell you? If we go to tender and it's way too high again, we'll have to definitely sit down and do our homework again."

Girard said no scope changes are taking place since the two engineers assigned to the Sault project are also busy working on the North Channel bridge replacement at...