Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position on extra spending for repairs to heritage walls on chemin de Senneville, in the Grand parc de l'Ouest (West Park), on lots 1 976 971 and 1 978 985. It asks the agglomeration council to authorize an additional $162,897.98, taxes included, for the contract with Les Constructions H2D inc.; the stated goal is to complete the repairs.
- The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting; this city council decision sets Montréal’s position.
- The requested increase would bring the project’s total cost to $1,174,331.77, taxes included. Some planned work would be removed from the contract.
- The requested extra spending includes $144,712.21 in additional contingency funds and a transfer of $18,185.77 from incidental costs to contingencies.
- The original contract was awarded through a public call for tenders with two bids. The materials do not say whether H2D’s bid was the lowest compliant bid.
What it means for you#
- Les Constructions H2D inc.: If the agglomeration council approves the request, the contractor could be paid for additional work and a labour-cost increase. The request also removes some originally planned work.
- People using the site: City staff expect work to resume May 15, 2026, and finish July 10, 2026. These are planned dates, not a guarantee in the resolution.
- Public funding: The city council decision itself does not finalize the extra spending; the agglomeration council decides whether to approve it.
Money#
The requested extra spending is $162,897.98, taxes included; city staff estimate the project’s revised total cost at $1,174,331.77, taxes included.
- The project’s revised total is 14% above the initial budget, according to city staff.
- The expense is assigned to the agglomeration. Staff say $132,141.54 net of tax rebates will be funded through borrowing bylaw RCG 20-006.
- The request also reallocates funds: $18,185.77 from incidentals to contingencies, and $62,240.28 from released credits to contingencies. It removes $72,588.03 of planned work; $10,347.75 of the released amount would cover labour-cost increases.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not identify whether H2D submitted the lowest compliant bid.
- They do not specify which originally planned work will be removed.
- The added work includes cleaning and reusing some stones, more sod, a new culvert, and remobilization. The materials do not give a separate cost for each item.
Case for#
- City staff say hidden conditions—including more stones with mortar than expected and buried stones discovered during excavation—required extra work that could not reasonably have been known before excavation.
- Staff say the existing culvert was badly degraded and needed replacement.
- Staff say the remaining contingency budget is not enough to complete the work, and rejecting the request would require a new call for tenders.
Case against#
- The project’s total cost would rise by 14%, and the contingency budget would increase substantially.
- Some needs were not anticipated in the design, including the amount of sod required and the condition of the culvert. This raises questions about the accuracy of the original estimates.
- The materials do not state whether H2D’s original bid was the lowest compliant one, which limits comparison with alternatives.