Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
A bigger budget, nine months of delays and counting, along with roadblocks from the National Capital Commission: the city’s plan to eliminate virtually all sewage from overflowing into the Ottawa River is hitting some snags.
The city identified underground storage tanks as the best way to stop spills into the River which will cost at least $150 million.
The final price tag is now pegged at $260 million, up an extra $9 million. City staff say that’s because they’ve decided to address previous flooding issues near O’Connor Street.
The major hitch, according to environment committee chair Maria McRae, is getting approval to build the tunnels because the NCC owns the land.
“Point blank, without the permission of the NCC our project doesn’t move forward so time has run out in essence”
The city also needs more money from the provincial and federal governments to complete the project, to the tune of about $47 million from each level.