Summary#
Montréal city council approved an additional $1,075,199.20, taxes included, for contingency costs on Les Entreprises Michaudville inc.’s existing roadwork contract on avenue Christophe-Colomb. The contract total is now $10,757,298.07, taxes included. City staff say the added budget is needed to cover extra work and complete the project.
- The work covers avenue Christophe-Colomb between boulevards Rosemont and Henri-Bourassa, in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
- The project includes road and sidewalk work, street lighting, traffic lights and work on underground utilities.
- The original contract was awarded after a public call for tenders that received five bids. The materials do not say whether Michaudville’s bid was the lowest compliant bid.
- The council’s decision authorizes the extra expense for work already done in 2025 and some work to be finished in 2026.
What it means for you#
- People travelling on or living near avenue Christophe-Colomb: The project is expected to continue, with work set to resume in April or May 2026 and finish in May 2026, according to city staff.
- Taxpayers: The decision authorizes additional public spending for the existing project. It does not create a new service or directly change taxes, fees or eligibility for benefits.
Money#
The council approved an additional $1,075,199.20, taxes included; city staff report the net cost after federal and provincial rebates is $981,800.18.
- The revised contract total is $10,757,298.07, taxes included. Staff say the additional amount is financed by the Service de l’urbanisme et de la mobilité and that the required net budget is available in the 2026–2035 capital plan.
- Staff identify an agglomeration borrowing bylaw as the funding source. They say the contingency budget rises from $988,098.87 to $2,063,298.08, taxes included.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not set out a detailed breakdown of how the new contingency amount will be spent.
- City staff say the contract schedule may be extended, but the decision does not state a revised contractual deadline.
- Staff say no further increase will be requested for this file; the decision itself does not set a limit on later changes to the contract.
Case for#
- City staff say more sidewalk sections had to be rebuilt to provide effective, safe drainage, and some planned quantities were too low.
- Staff say late integration of underground electrical assets led to further sidewalk, soil-handling and road-repair work. The additional budget helps pay for this work and finish the project.
Case against#
- The contract total rises by $1,075,199.20 because of added work and quantities that were not fully accounted for in the original budget.
- Staff say the project was put out to tender on an accelerated schedule and that some utility details were integrated late. One concern is whether the original planning and cost estimates were adequate.