The City of Montreal is suing the consulting firm AECOM for 5 million, which it accuses of having committed numerous errors and omissions in the plans for SRB-Pie-IX. These defects would have resulted in additional costs of at least 1.5 million.
Posted at 3:57 p.m.
In 2016, AECOM obtained a 9 million contract for the preparation of plans and specifications for the SRB-Pie-IX, as well as for other professional services. This amount was increased several times during the works.
The SRB-Pie-IX is an 11-kilometre corridor of reserved bus lanes, with 17 stations, which should come into service from the end of 2022.
According to the lawsuit filed March 21 at the Montreal courthouse, city officials were first made aware of the issues with the plans in October 2018, by the contractor responsible for carrying out the work.
It is indicated in particular that “the scenario planned by AECOM for the maintenance of circulation presented several problems”.
“Since October 2018, numerous errors and omissions have been discovered in the plans and specifications drawn up by [AECOM]generating numerous unforeseen additional costs […]. What’s more, [AECOM] committed multiple shortcomings in carrying out its technical assistance mandate. »
The defects found were notified to AECOM on several occasions during the work, the City claims in the lawsuit. In August 2021, the project office also sent the consultant a letter detailing the omissions, errors and other problems.
AECOM did not respond to this letter, “and new breaches of contract have been observed and continue to be observed”, alleges the City.
“Although it is difficult to assess the amount of damage suffered until the project is completed, [la Ville de Montréal] provisionally assesses it at the total sum of $ 5,000,000, “says the lawsuit.
Called to react, AECOM did not respond to requests for The Press.
With Louis-Samuel Perron