The inauguration of the semi-submersible footbridge at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency has been postponed for another year, this time due to construction adjustments after the cost explosion revealed last year.
Initially scheduled for the spring of 2021, Sépaq announced last year that the long-awaited footbridge which should become the highlight of the waterfall show would finally be inaugurated somewhere in the summer of 2022. However, nothing has yet moved on the site, was able to see The newspaper over the past few weeks, and the public will still have to wait.
The organization confirms that the construction of this unique concept “requires more time than estimated” due to technical challenges.
“Samples of the various sections of the semi-submersible footbridge required several structural and architectural adjustments before obtaining a final version,” explains Sépaq spokesperson Florence Rouleau by email, specifying that the deadline is now postponed to summer 2023.
The labor shortage forcing the paralysis of certain construction sites also had a role to play, defends the organization.
Off-site construction
The semi-submersible bridge will be at the foot of Montmorency Falls and will complete the new route Experience-Fall, on which Sépaq relies to energize its site. The work makes itself unique by its mobile construction which will make it go up and down to the rhythm of the level of the basin under the fall.
Photo Pierre-Paul Biron
Visitors to Parc de la Chute-Montmorency have taken advantage of the magnificent fall colors in recent weeks, but not of the semi-submersible platform which was to have been inaugurated since 2021 already. The project is still pending; construction is slowing down on the site.
Sépaq ensures that its construction, even if it is not yet visible on the site, is well underway.
“Construction of the semi-submersible walkway, which is made up of different sections, is underway at three off-site yards. […]. The assembly will take place at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency,” specifies the management.
Obviously, these delays cause continuous inconvenience to park users. Some accesses have been closed for two years now for a construction site that does not succeed, lamented regulars met by The newspaper.
Budget update decline
As for the budget, the initial park improvement envelope of $48 million provided for an investment of $15 million to Experience-Fallincluding $4 million for the footbridge, but it was already announced last year that we were going from simple to double. Experience-Fall then reached $30 million, leaving only crumbs for other projects.
A year later, Sépaq refuses to redo the accounts, contenting itself with affirming that “all the contracts have been awarded”. However, this fact does not prevent extras, $5.2 million having already been added to signed agreements, according to a compilation of the Log.
“We prefer to wait for the end of the work before taking stock of the total costs”, maintains Florence Rouleau.
This reality forces Sépaq to cut elsewhere, particularly in the renovation of the Manoir Montmorency. Because the objective of respecting the envelope of $48 million remains.
“The completion of certain developments in phase II of the overall redevelopment plan will have to be postponed, such as the redevelopment of the Manoir Montmorency, the expansion of the bottom station and the construction of a technical services building”, lists the management. organisation.
Timeline:
- Unveiled by The newspaper in January 2018
- Official announcement in April 2018
- Inauguration planned for spring 2021
- Semi-submersible gangway postponed to summer 2022 due to pandemic-caused delays
- Expected finally for the summer of 2023
Budget:
- $48M in total for the two phases ($15M and $33M)
- Explosion of costs related to the first phase, rising to $30M
- Sépaq refuses to specify where the budget is currently, saying only that the total envelope will be respected.
Source: lejournal/Sépaq compilation