Sunjeev Prasad
News Reporter
The heated debate over the proposed peace bridge still remains a hot topic among city council members. As of today the bridge has yet to see a single shovel hit the dirt since the city of Calgary is still undecided on how to cut costs in order to remain within budget. The original estimate for the bridge was to be around $18 million but the lowest bid at this point is hovering at $20.5 million which has many critics still strongly opposed to its construction. Santiago Calatrava is a renowned engineer whose elaborate designs in the past have gone far over budget, recently a project in Venice ended up costing four times the original estimate and if that were the case with Calgary’s peace bridge, it would surely leave a very bitter taste in the mouths of taxpayers. Not all is lost yet, though the bridge may still be $2.5 million over budget a few adjustments can be made in order to reduce costs. Eliminating the granite walkway and replacing it with either concrete or ceramic would likely be enough to bridge the gap between the budgeted costs and the price quotes from various construction firms. The debate surrounding the peace bridge will remain a heated issue until it is all said and done, and now that city council is proposing a hike in tax rates more critics of the project may feel the need to voice their opinions on this subject.
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