Back from the dead is the project to replace the Dufferin bridges over the Gardiner and the Railway corridor.
The City now facing unforeseen urgency to get this done (we'll come back to that) has a report to the Sept 14th Infrastructure and Environment Ctte seeing authority to sole source the contract for engineering and design.
Note that the TTC is seeking to add reconstruction of Dufferin Loop to the work, presumably (one would hope) with turning movements for streetscars in both directions in service of the WWLRT.
Report here:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-170323.pdf
From said report, a lesson on how government can created needless delays and added costs to project and how Mx can be an obstructive, inconsiderate nuisance. (did we need more examples?, probably not)
Note that I'm skipping bits here, and for the full story, follow the link above to the report!
The reasons for it being a bit of a rush:
The ten (10) year service-life of the temporary bridges installed in 2014, results in a
need for the bridges to be replaced within the next three (3) to four (4) years. Metrolinx's
proposed electrification barriers and equipment cannot be attached to the temporary structures and it is strongly recommended that the bridges be replaced prior to
electrification of the Lakeshore West Rail Corridor
In Summation:
- Mx imposes requirements on the City to change its designs for the bridges to allow for Mx's electrical work. Then fails to provide the technical info required in order to carry that out.
- This results in an initial delay of at least 2 years
- Mx then promises the City it will carry out the work, at its expense as part of the GO Expansion program; this delays work another 2 years.
- Mx then changes its mind and tells the City it will have to do the work, and its own expense, and decides, the original clearances are fine after all, necessitating further design changes.
