WINNIPEG – Engineers believe the damage to the Hudson Bay Railway wrought by historic spring flooding can be fixed in 60 days.
In its first major update since the line closed in May, Omnitrax officials said work could start in September, but it’s looking for governments and first nations to cover the cost.
“We need to identify a source of funding,” Omnitrax chief commercial officer Peter Touesnard said. “We believe it’s a public utility, and we believe there is a role for the public to play in that.”
READ: Train to Churchill suspended ‘indefinitely’ after flooding damage
The 293 kilometers of track between Gillam and Churchill has now been inspected by Aecom, the company contracted by the owner of the rail line, Omnitrax.
So far 31 washouts, 13 bridges and 68 culverts have been identified as in need of repair as a result of flooding.
READ: Churchill residents on edge after flooding cut off
However, several bridge inspections, underwater inspections and geotechnical inspections still need to take place.
Fixing the line won’t be easy, according to Aecom engineers.
The remoteness of the site means there is no access, no housing for workers and supplying materials for workers will be difficult.
The preliminary plan is to start from the south and work to the north and immediately begin tendering and awarding contracts in order to meet the ambitious 60-day construction timeline.
Officials with Aecom say some materials and transportation will cost between $20 million and $60 million to fix.
In a statement Tuesday Manitoba’s infrastructure minister called the update provided by Omnitrax “inadequate”.
“It appears that they intend to abandon the line,” Blaine Pederson said. “If so, then it is their obligation to the people of Churchill and indeed Manitobans to communicate their abandonment decision to the federal government.”