Pan Am projects running over budget, behind schedule: reports
Posted June 25, 2014 6:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games is just over a year away and construction on some key facilities is behind schedule and over budget, according to published reports.
The Globe and Mail reports construction on the $145.7-million Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium is behind schedule.
It was set to officially open in July for a Hamilton Tiger-Cats game, but because of the long winter and the bankruptcy of some sub-contractors who were laying bricks, it may not be finished by that time.
However, Pan American Games CEO Saad Rafi told the Globe they have full confidence it will be ready for the games.
The $56-million Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, where track cycling events will be held, is reportedly behind schedule by four to eight weeks, but Rafi said it will be ready by the end of August.
The Globe also reports that the BMX track in Etobicoke was estimated to cost $1.5 million, but is now projected to cost at least $4.4-million.
Coun. Michael Thompson, who chairs the city’s economic development committee, told 680News on Wednesday he is not concerned or surprised by the figure.
“What we’re learning is that these estimates and so on are not [an] exact science,” Thompson said.
“I think that it should be universal by now that all of these plans when we get the costs, those numbers should not be assumed to be final because we understand that they change.”
Lighting up the Bloor-Viaduct is also over budget. The Toronto Star reports it will cost nearly $4.7 million to illuminate the Prince Edward viaduct — almost $3-million more than previous estimates.
The Pan Am Games will be held July 10-26, while the Parapan American Games takes place August 7-15.
