The contract for GrandLinq to design, build and operate Waterloo Region’s Ion light rail transit system includes a number of key deadlines – at least one of which may be in jeopardy.
Coun. Tom Galloway says GrandLinq has until Sept. 30 to complete the grade separation project that is seeing King Street torn up and rebuilt between Victoria Street and Moore Avenue.
“I’ve been told by some of the people at GrandLinq that they’re pushing really hard to meet the Sept. 30 date,” Galloway said Friday.
If the project – which is seeing King Street lowered to separate it from the rail tracks, and a new rail bridge constructed – isn’t done by then, GrandLinq may have to pay financial penalties.
For its part, GrandLinq says it has made “really good progress” in the area, including the use of a dome to facilitate concrete pouring during the winter, but won’t be in a position to say when the work on King will be done until sometime in September.
“We’ve encountered some significant delays as a result of some third-party utility work in the area, and we’re currently working to re-assess our schedule,” said Lauren McGirr, the consortium’s community relations specialist.
For business owners in the area, the suggestion of construction delays is anything but good news.
“We’ve been frustrated by the number of delays,” said Chad Yurkin, co-owner of District Nightclub.
Yurkin says he was told at one point that a sidewalk would be installed in front of his building by last Christmas. Instead, it didn’t show up until this week.
“It’s not the greatest environment, to have gravel and high heels,” he said.
“There’s just been so much lack of communication … about what we should be seeing completed.”
It’s a similar story for Kate Geo of Mom’s Tattoo Shop, who says she’s lost a lot of business and isn’t about to get her hopes up for construction finishing, because she’s heard so many different timelines for when that will happen.
“I don’t feel like the communication is as good as it could be,” she said.
McGirr says GrandLinq provides businesses with the “best time estimates” available, but unforeseen issues can cause delays.
“We’re always willing to meet with businesses, to listen to their concerns and to learn how we can better communicate with them,” she said.
GrandLinq says more than 60 per cent of Ion construction is done overall, including 80 per cent of utility work.
According to Galloway, the consortium’s work is “a few months” behind schedule – but regional officials had anticipated that and built it into the pre-launch schedule.
The bigger concern, Galloway says, is the delays in getting light rail vehicles from Bombardier.
Those delays have already pushed Ion’s expected start date from 2017 into 2018.
With reporting by Abigail Bimman
