WINNIPEG — People having to deal with construction on the Plessis Road underpass are fed up with yet another delay on the project.
“I don’t know what is the plan,” said Ninette Zoleta, whose backyard borders the construction site.
She says her son doesn’t even play outside anymore because of all the heavy machinery and noise
She is frustrated the city now says it won’t make a deadline to have two lanes of Plessis Road open to vehicles by July 31, 2015. That target has now moved to the end of October.
READ MORE: Plessis underpass delays could leave the city on the hook for millions
Because the deadline to have the road open will not be met, the federal and provincial governments could withdraw a combined $50 million in funding. The city has asked for a deadline extension from both levels of government in hopes of keeping the funds.
The feds signaled Monday their displeasure with the situation.
“Our Conservative government is very disappointed by those delays,” Michele-Jamali Paquette, spokesperson for federal infrastructure minister Denis Lebel, said in an email to Global News. “We believe it is important that this project be delivered on time. We will make a decision regarding a delay extension soon.”
Late Monday afternoon the provincial minister responsible for Winnipeg told Global News the NDP government is still on board.
“Provincial funding remains on the table for this project,” said Drew Caldwell. “We are committed to seeing it through.”
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Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman said he’s asked the city’s administration to increase the priority of the project.
“I think everyone involved in the city most notably would like this completed sooner than later,” he said.
Brad Sacher, the city’s director of public works, said the October deadline was decided on with the expectation of “normal” weather and doesn’t rule out further hold ups.
“We are as confident as we can be, given there are a lot of things we can’t control,” said Sacher. “We can’t control the weather.”
Meantime, Zoletta’s family is fed up with the long-delayed project next door. “We’re planning to sell this house but the problem is who do you think is going to buy this house,” she said.
Since construction started she has noticed cracks in her walls and even had a fish aquarium crack. She believes it is because of the work being done.
Zoleta said an insurance agent has inspected the home and believes the person was sent by the city.
The city’s website on the project listed the completion date as September 15, 2015 and mentioned an incentive for construction crews to finish and open the road around May long weekend 2015.
By late Monday afternoon the website had been updated to reflect the new timeline.
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