Demolition costs skyrocket
Former transit building ground contamination raises remedial costs by $650,000
Demolishing the former Niagara Transit building on Bridge Street in Niagara Falls has cost 650,000 more to date than originally anticipated.
During demolition, it was discovered the land surrounding the building was contaminated with hydrocarbons.
The source of the contamination appeared to be broken oil-storage tanks. Approximately 6,800 tons of contaminated soil had to be removed from the site. A collector system was installed on the property to gather any remaining contamination. According to a city staff report, environmental consultants were retained and remedial action began.
Two large concrete walls were also discovered under the building. Removal of the walls had not been budgeted for in the original $163,624 contract, which was awarded to Salandria Ltd.
Staff said while it’s possible a lower price for the removal of the hydrocarbon contamination might have been found, they and environmental consultants believed the municipality had to “demonstrate immediate due diligence” to the Ministry of the Environment, according to the report prepared by city solicitor Ken Beaman.
“While an argument could have been made that the facts of the situation did not require the MOE be notified, staff and the consultants decided to err on the side of caution and notify the MOE,” wrote Beaman.
“In addition, there had been a complaint about the oily smells emanating from the site. Salandria Ltd., was on site and had the necessary equipment to address the problem.”
The excavation, which resulted from the demolition, has been backfilled with concrete and gravel.
The next step is for an environmental team to install monitoring wells and dig additional test pits to confirm the extent of the advance of the contamination.
The former transit building, which was 56 years old and beside the Niagara Falls bus terminal, was demolished to make way for parking to accommodate potential future year-round GO train service to the city.
Chief Administrative Officer Ken Todd and Mayor Jim Diodati also recently told the Niagara Falls Review the property was also looked at as a potential site for a future post-secondary presence downtown.
In the spring of 2015, transit operations moved into its new facility in southwest Niagara Falls. The property, at 8208 Heartland Forest Rd. behind Niagara Falls, is almost four times the size of the Bridge Street location, which staff said was in poor shape and didn’t have enough room to handle new fleet.
While an argument could have been made that the facts of the situation did not require the MOE be notified, staff and the consultants decided to err on the side of caution and notify the MOE.” City solicitor Ken Beaman