By PAUL TURENNE, SUN MEDIA
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Maloway cites the costs of Minneapolis bridge in his advocacy for a six-lane Disraeli Overpass. (JASON HALSTEAD/SUN MEDIA)
The province's most vocal proponent of a six-lane Disraeli Overpass says a high-tech bridge now under construction in Minneapolis is proof city hall's estimates on an expanded bridge are over-inflated.
The City of Winnipeg's public works director, however, says that's not a fair comparison and stands by the city's numbers.
Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway has been pushing the city for some time to consider a six-lane option -- twin three-lane spans -- when rebuilding the Disraeli. The city has only presented four-lane options ranging in price from $125 million to $160 million depending on the width of the lanes and sidewalks.
Bill Larkin, director of public works for the city, said a six-lane option has been estimated to cost at least $250 million and isn't needed for another 20 years.
Maloway, who has gathered more than 3,000 signatures in support of a six-lane option, claims the wider overpass can be built for less than the city estimates.
The I-35W bridge that crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed Aug. 1, 2007. Its replacement is set to open in a month or two at a cost of US $234 million. That bridge will have five lanes of traffic in each direction, plus two more each way for rapid transit use.
HALF THE LENGTH
It's about half the length of the Disraeli project, but Ed Innes, president of the Keep Disraeli Open Committee, has crunched the numbers using the Minneapolis figures and calculated that a six-lane Disraeli project would cost less than $200 million.
"Why would a bidder in Winnipeg be that much different than someone only 500 miles away?" Maloway said.
Larkin said the Minneapolis bridge was a 2007 project and inflation would have to be taken into account.
He also said the city's cost estimates include about 30% for non-construction costs like design, public consultation and land acquisition, and questioned whether the Minneapolis figure also factored those in or simply represents pure construction costs.
Maloway noted the 2005 Rapid Transit Task Force report suggested the extra lanes could be added to the Disraeli bridges for $50 million, but Larkin said inflation would also drive that figure up significantly.
Larkin said the $250 million for a six-lane overpass is just an estimate and if the city ever tendered for such a project bids may or may not come in at less than that.
Regardless of how much more a larger overpass might cost, Maloway says the city has never come asking the province for the extra cash, and if it did, it just might get it.
The MLA said he would be willing to lobby Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton and Infrastructure Minister Ron Lemieux for more money for the project.
"I have no reason to believe at this point that the money wouldn't be available," Maloway said. The city is expected to make its decision on the design this fall.