Another high-profile Construction Project goes over Budget, and falls Behind Schedule

So, the city bungles another construction project. Surprise, surprise. This one is particularly annoying because it didn’t need to happen to begin with. Why do we need the swankiest area of Toronto to be made even swankier, while dozens of streets, with large amounts of LOCAL traffic sit in disrepair. And what about all those empty, city-owned lots that are on every fifth block, never mind those, lets just remake Yorkville. I understand that that’s where the tourists go, and as we all know Toronto is obsessed with presenting itself as a world-class city, so I can understand why these projects get the go ahead without much consultation, but my problem is, that  they also go ahead without much planning!  4.5$ Million over-budget, and behind schedule, sadly, to me,  that screams Toronto, and it’s what we’re quickly becoming known for. Ironic, isn’t it, for a city trying to create a modern, streamlined image (if not an actual modern, streamlined city).

The major facelift of the stretch of Bloor St. that’s home to some of Canada’s swankiest retail stores is $4.5 million over budget.

A city staff report going to the public works committee next week lists 11 reasons – mostly unforeseen construction problems – for the 23 per cent overrun, which has left the “Mink Mile” torn up and its beautification at least a year behind schedule.

But more than half of the overrun – $2.5 million – is pinned on Toronto Hydro, including the need to sink 14 hydro “chambers” beneath the street, and problems that forced the delay of the work between Yonge St. and Avenue Rd.

The Bloor Street Transformation Project is a joint effort of the city and a local business improvement group. The city fronted the money and the business group is to repay the original cost estimate of $19.7 million.

The city is expected to have to pay the extra costs.

Kyle Rae, the local councillor who sits on the board of the Bloor Street Business Improvement Area, recently told the Star that that “the project management of this transformation has been disappointing, frustrating and such a struggle.”

There have been so many problems with the installation of wide granite sidewalks, planters and new trees that Rae has called the project a sequel to the bungled St. Clair streetcar right-of-way project.

The Bloor St. transformation is now expected to be finished by the end of this year.