The mayor of Montreal said she was both concerned and confident about the blue line extension project on Thursday, while the only consortium vying to dig the tunnel threatens to slam the door.
“This is never the kind of information we want to have, because we just want it to work,” said Valérie Plante, on the sidelines of a visit to the Montreal Book Fair. “It’s certainly worrying, but I’m confident that there will be an agreement. I can’t really go any further for legal reasons, but I’m confident that we will find a solution. »
The Press revealed Thursday that there was only one consortium left in the race to obtain the contract to dig the tunnel for the extension of the blue line, over more than six kilometers. This consortium, called Mobilité Bleu Horizon, is led by the construction giant Pomerleau. In recent weeks, he threatened to slam the door on the project and not submit a bid if four “critical elements” of the contract were not modified, including late fees and the amount of the letter of credit to be obtained. .
Mme Plante confirmed at a press briefing that only one bidder was still in the race. “This situation of just having a bidder who wants to look at other conditions is worrying,” she said.
She rejected comparisons with the Quebec City tramway, a project which attracted no bids earlier this fall after the withdrawal of a consortium including Pomerleau. For the blue line “everyone is on the train. I would say that I am confident, because I hear those who have the financial power say: yes, this project is important,” she continued. “The will is there and we will move forward. »
The STM defends its approach
Furthermore, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) defended Thursday the way it manages the awarding of the main contract for the blue metro line extension project.
“Our primary objective is to obtain the best project at the best possible cost and in compliance with the applicable normative framework,” said the public organization in an email. “The project office works rigorously to ensure the integrity of the process. This is an exercise carried out seriously by a competent multidisciplinary team. »
The bidder’s requests were analyzed independently, swears the STM.
“The project office includes several expert teams allowing it to rigorously analyze each request made and to respond in a thoughtful, equitable and concerted manner, if necessary with the project partners,” indicated the carrier, again by email. “Everything takes into account the best practices in the industry aimed at ensuring fair sharing of risks between the client and the future successful bidder. »
The STM refused to confirm the information from The Press.
Pomerleau and its consortium partner EBC did not immediately return calls Thursday. They had refused to comment on the file the day before.