DEH CHO - Two Deh Cho leaders are maintaining their support of the Deh Cho Bridge, despite a recent announcement that its cost had ballooned by more than $15 million.

Both Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche and Chief Jochaim Bonnetrouge of the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation have said the project should move forward and does hold benefits.

Despite a $15 million overrun, the Deh Cho Bridge still has the support of at least two Deh Cho leaders. - NNSL file photo

Transportation Minister Michael McLeod announced on Feb. 12 in Yellowknife that the bridge will be $15 million over budget. The most recent cost overrun brings the price of the project to $182 million, 10 per cent more than last expected.

McLeod, who is also the MLA of the Deh Cho riding where the bridge is being built, will be asking the legislative assembly's approval to cover the cost overrun. McLeod said the additional money is needed to cover the cost of a new design, which has yet to be finalized.

"My intention is to finish the bridge," McLeod told reporters on Friday.

Deciding not to finish the bridge, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns since former Premier Joe Handley approved it in 2007, would be almost as expensive as finishing the job, now 50-per cent completed.

"We'd have to pay out the lenders, we'd have to probably remove the infrastructure we did create, we'd have to use the temporary bridges put back in to do that. It'd be quite significant," said McLeod. "It would be in excess of $100 million."

The minister said he still expects the design and new contractor to be finalized by March 1, and is confident the project to remain will remain on track for completion in November 2011.

MLA Kevin Menicoche said it's regrettable the cost has risen, but that it's not an unusual occurrence.

"Most public infrastructure projects have cost overruns," Menicoche said. "I believe we should still be moving forward with the completion of the bridge."

The territory will still see benefits from the bridge, including the fact that it's one of the biggest economic projects currently underway in the North during a time of depressed economy, said Menicoche, who added he doesn't have any concerns about the additional $15 million impeding other planned projects or services. The budget is currently being deliberated, so there will be no short-term impacts from the increase, he said.

In Fort Providence, Chief Jochaim Bonnetrouge has remained optimistic about the project

"The people here did believe they were really contributing to the rest of the North by building the bridge," he said. "The band and the community still looks forward to the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge."

If an additional $15 million is needed to complete the Deh Cho Bridge, the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation will support the move, Bonnetrouge said. The bridge has to be completed - budget increases are common to mega-projects, Bonnetrouge said. The overrun is the result of a series of "unforeseen circumstances" that were beyond the control of the projects managers, he said.

In the list of factors that changed the project's budget, Bonnetrouge includes the price of steel and high cost of fuel, weather conditions that were not conducive to pouring and curing cement, difficulties with ATCON Construction and the bridge's redesign.

"It went on and on," Bonnetrouge said.

The community of Fort Providence and project leaders have done their due diligence to work through the unforeseen difficulties, Bonnetrouge said. The Dene and Metis in the community have to keep involved in the project, he said.

As the bridge tentatively moves forward, the GNWT has taken over the duties of project management, replacing the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation's former project management team of Andrew Gamble and Jivok Engineering.

"We felt we needed to bring in a new team to provide project management on this job," McLeod said.

McLeod said he wouldn't specify which individuals would be involved, but confirmed the new management team would be a combination of people from the Department of Transportation and a private company.

"The reporting will come directly to us," said McLeod.

"It's a change, certainty."

The transportation minister said negotiations with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation are ongoing.