Construction of the Ion light rail transit system has now seen two-thirds of the rail tracks placed and 95 per cent of underground pipe work completed.
Overall, regional councillors heard Tuesday, construction is now 80 per cent done.
According to Darshpreet Bhatti, the region’s director of rapid transit, most of the construction work should be done by early summer 2017.
After that, time will be spent testing the light rail vehicles on the track and ensuring that everything runs smoothly once the system starts up in early 2018.
That is, of course, assuming there are no further delays with Bombardier’s production of the light rail vehicles themselves.
The first vehicles were supposed to be in Waterloo Region by now. The deadline has since been extended to December.
Coun. Tom Galloway is visiting Bombardier on Wednesday to see the state of the first vehicles for himself.
“We’ve had … many setbacks. We just need to see the vehicles,” he said.
Galloway says that, as he understands it, the first vehicle for Ion is “nearing completion.”
The region is able to fine Bombardier for every day vehicle delivery is behind schedule, up to a maximum of $3.3 million.
While regional officials have never explicitly said that route will be taken, Galloway did say Tuesday that the region will look to be redressed for any expenses caused by the vehicles not being ready.
“We are going to have some expenses that we would not have budgeted for, and would expect them to keep us whole in regards to the extra expenses that the late delivery of the vehicles has created,” he said.
Overall, about $612 million out of the project’s $818-million budget has been spent, with a further $172 million in spending already committed to.
“At this particular time, we’re within our budget,” Galloway said.
“It’s getting tight, but then we’re getting fairly close to the construction end.”
With reporting by Tyler Calver
