Nisutlin Bay Bridge Project in Danger of Going Further Over Budget

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is requesting more information following the territorial Liberals' admission that the $183.9 million Nisutlin Bay Bridge project has faced significant difficulties and is in danger of going further over the budget.

The project has become one of the symbols of Liberal mismanagement and incompetence despite the Yukon Party highlighting concerns for the government over the past five years.

Just over a month ago, during the Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, Pelly-Nisutlin MLA Stacey Hassard inquired whether the movement on the abutments was within normal parameters or if there were any concerns regarding the amount of movement in either the north or south abutments. At the time, the Liberal minister downplayed the concern and stated, “I can advise that the bridge abutment experienced a shift that did require design adjustment to maintain progress and keep the project on schedule. The change ensures that the work continues to meet the highest safety standards.”

This now appears to be another looming cost overrun and costly delay to the project, which is already massively over budget. The project first appeared in the 2019-2020 5-year Capital Plan with an expected completion date of 2022-2023. On April 30, 2019, the territorial Liberals indicated that the project had a budget of roughly $25 million for the new bridge. But when the tender was finally awarded in May 2022, the contract was awarded at $160 million.

During 2023, the Yukon Party highlighted how the Liberals’ failure to secure proper authorizations prior to tendering the contract resulted in significant changes to the project that would require a change order. In January 2024, the government acknowledged that a contract change order had been completed, resulting in an additional $23.9 million in costs to taxpayers.

The Liberal government needs to inform Yukoners how much fixing the issue will cost, what the new timelines are, and why this happened.

“Despite Yukon Party efforts to raise serious concerns about the management of the project over several years, the territorial Liberals continue to mismanage projects, including the Nisutlin Bay Bridge,” said Copperbelt South MLA Scott Kent. “The Liberals’ poor decision-making continues to cost Yukon taxpayers money. If Yukoners want to see change, they will need to see a change in government.”

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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874