Eglinton Crosstown builder says agency does not believe COVID-19 has caused cost overruns, delays

Written by RT&S Staff
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The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project faces another delay.
Metrolinx

Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) wants some credit for working through a pandemic. An acknowledgement of cost overruns would be nice, too.

CTS, which is building the Eglinton Crosstown project in Toronto, is taking provincial transit agency Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario to court over delays and cost overruns. The contractor says both are being caused by COVID-19.

CTS claims the pandemic has resulted in workers missing days, supply-chain issues and subcontractors exceeding budgets in an effort to keep workers safe.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice is being asked to review CTS’s project agreement with Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario. CTS is hoping a judge will agree that COVID-19 falls under emergency circumstances as outlined in the contract.

According to an analysis by CTS during the first wave of the pandemic, COVID-19 is expected to add $134 million to the total cost of the project in 2020. That cost could increase with a second wave.

Metrolinx does not believe CTS has provided proof that COVID-19 has played a factor in the cost overruns and delays. Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster says, “CTS’s demands are unquantifiable.”

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