SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Auditor general Sheila Fraser's predictions became closer to reality on Friday after Michael McLeod, minister of Transportation, told the legislative assembly the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge might be behind schedule due to a month's delay of steel delivery last fall.

Canada's auditor general's report of the project foresaw the cost of the Deh Cho Bridge exceeding $182 million and that the project would not be completed by its scheduled date of November. It was projected to cost $55 million a decade ago.

McLeod said currently, the effect of a possible delay on the total capital cost of the project could not be determined. The Deh Cho Bridge is the largest public infrastructure project ever undertaken in the NWT. Its construction began in 2008.

McLeod said information provided by the contractor indicates the superstructure trusses, towers, and cabling were not completed during the past winter because of the materials' late delivery.

"We expect that if there is a delay, it would require at least six months for the weather to warm up and that would probably mean the spring construction of the final portion," he said.

"As a result, certain weather-sensitive construction activities such as paving, constructing concrete curbs and grouting of deck panels are unlikely to begin before winter."

McLeod said with any delay, there is a chance the territory could be looking at another season of the Merv Hardie ferry and the ice bridge across the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence.

"If there is a delay, we anticipate there will be costs. We're not sure who's going to be responsible for the costs at this point," he said.

"The ferry service doesn't come cheap. It is still part of our fiscal framework so there's an allowance for it. That includes the ice bridge but at some point we are going to have to see who's going to pay for the service."

He said the department has to recognize the reality if the project is deferred, there will be the ongoing costs of of project management, the cost of engineers and money that was supposed to be collected at the tolls.

On Monday, McLeod will present the legislative assembly with an act to amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act.

He said now that it is a government project, rather than a public-private partnership, some aspects of the act will be changed.

He said the recommendations in the auditor general's report, released in February, have been accepted by the department and an action plan has been developed to address the issues identified in the report.

McLeod said the contractor is working on the south side of the river and once the river is ice-free, the contractor will reinstall the south side work-bridge and temporary supports.

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