Deh Cho Bridge design still in the works, minister concedes

The design of a major bridge over the Mackenzie River is still being reviewed by engineers, even though its construction is about one-quarter complete, N.W.T. Transportation Minister Michael McLeod confirmed on Wednesday.

Speaking in the legislative assembly, McLeod conceded that it's not an ideal situation, but said design changes could be needed on the controversial $160-million bridge project.

"We'd all agree the best-case scenario would be to have the project sign off on the design right up front. That was not the situation. Time and capacity didn't allow the final design," McLeod told the assembly, in response to a question by Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay.

"It's been worked on, and it requires the final sign-off," McLeod added. "We are expecting those results to come back, and that will indicate whether it requires major changes or minor changes, or everything is fine."

Once built, Deh Cho Bridge will provide a year-round link between much of the Northwest Territories and southern Canada.

The kilometre-long span is being constructed over the river at Fort Providence, N.W.T., where motorists currently cross on a ferry in the summer and an ice road in the winter.

The Deh Cho Bridge Corp. is building the structure, with loans backed by the territorial government.

The project has been controversial since it was approved in 2007 by then premier Joe Handley, shortly before he retired from office.

At the time the bridge was approved, Handley had said the final design was in the works.

Ramsay asked McLeod how the territorial government could sign onto the $160-million project "without a firm design."

"Here we are, $40 million into this project; there's piers in the water, and there's still no design," Ramsay said in the assembly.

McLeod said the engineers' review of the bridge design will not be finished until late summer or early fall.

Meanwhile, the bridge project is at least four months behind schedule as this season's work begins.