The City of Trois-Rivières was treated to a very bad surprise when the bids were opened for the construction of a new terminal and the renovation of the current airport.
The lowest of the proposals received exceeds the estimates by $1.7 million. It stands at $17.2 million, while the city expected it to cost at most $15.5 million.
Estimates had already jumped 35% due to the high inflation that hit the construction sector. Quebec had then improved its subsidy and the municipal council, on division, had agreed to put money back into the project.
The construction of a new terminal is a bone of contention among elected officials from Trois-Rivières. It is not yet possible to tell City Hall what will happen to this important project.
“In these cases, what can happen? We can return to tenders, but by reviewing the call for tenders, by modifying the scope of the project, for example. These are things that can be done. Can it be to increase the funding of the project by looking to see different possible grants? Obviously, at the moment, we are in hypotheses. But, necessarily, there will be work to do,” explained Mikaël Morrissette, spokesperson for the City.