Auditor general says new Champlain Bridge will cost more than forecast
OTTAWA — The federal auditor general says Montreal’s new Champlain Bridge will cost more than forecast and won’t be ready on time.
Michael Ferguson says in his annual spring report the scheduled Dec. 21 opening of the bridge appears to be ambitious, even with additional new resources or the use of new construction methods to speed up its completion.
Ferguson is also taking issue with Ottawa, saying the federal government should have moved ahead earlier on the project.
He says the dilly-dallying has cost taxpayers more than $500 million, including $306 million in major repair work done on the current Champlain Bridge, which links Montreal with its south shore.