Summary#
Montréal city council approved a contract with Les Pavages Céka inc. for work in six boroughs. The goal stated by city staff is to help remove lead water connections across Montréal by the end of 2032; this contract does not guarantee that result.
- The work covers about 302 lead water connections, about 50,400 m² of road rehabilitation and 4,365 m² of sidewalk reconstruction in Anjou, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montréal-Nord, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie.
- It also includes replacing private-side connections made of lead or galvanized steel that are, or were, in contact with lead, under bylaw 20-030.
- The contract was awarded through a public call for tenders. Five firms submitted compliant bids; Les Pavages Céka’s was the lowest.
- Council authorized a total of $14,167,491.18, taxes included. This includes the $12,548,770.97 contract, a contingency budget and an incidental-cost budget.
- The contractor must be evaluated. The contract sets daily penalties for delays, including $1,000 for late schedules, $1,000–$3,500 for delays on a street, and $500–$1,000 for certain other delays.
What it means for you#
- Residents in the listed boroughs: Streets identified in the contract will have water-connection and roadwork. The supplied material does not include the street list.
- Property owners: Earlier city decisions say owners must fully reimburse the City for replacement work on private sections of lead connections. The current decision does not explain how that repayment applies to this contract or how much any owner would owe.
- People who use these streets: The contract includes road and sidewalk work. The decision does not give a work schedule or say how access will be managed.
- Taxpayers: The City authorized the contract and related budgets. The decision does not say how the costs are divided among funding sources.
Money#
The City authorized $14,167,491.18, taxes included; no separate estimate of the final cost is given.
- The contract price is $12,548,770.97. The contingency budget is $1,254,877.10, and the incidental-cost budget is $363,843.11.
- The bid was 2.49% above the City’s estimate. The second-lowest compliant bid was 18.32% higher than the winning bid.
- The decision gives no contract term or renewal options.
What is unclear#
- The exact streets are listed in an attachment not included in the supplied material.
- How private-side replacement costs will be charged to owners under this contract is not explained.
- The work schedule, disruption arrangements and final cost are not stated. No publicly available information.
Case for#
- The contract combines lead-connection replacement with road and sidewalk work in the same areas.
- Five compliant bids were received, and the selected bid was the lowest. It was 2.49% above the City’s estimate.
- City staff say road resurfacing can extend pavement life and support the City’s road-maintenance programs.
Case against#
- The authorized total is substantial, and the bid exceeded the City’s estimate; contingency and incidental-cost budgets add to the contract price.
- The decision does not explain how owners will be billed for private-side work, even though earlier city decisions say owners fully reimburse the City for such work.
- The supplied material does not provide street-by-street timing or explain how residents will be affected during construction.