BURGOYNE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT TIMELINE

AUGUST 2010:

A regional consultant says the 100-year-old Burgoyne Bridge needs to be replaced in five to seven years. Estimated cost for the project is pegged.

AUGUST 2013:

The design of the new bridge is still being worked out due to geological conditions.

DECEMBER 2013:

The Region receives $36.3 million in federal and provincial funding for the bridge project.

FEBRUARY 2014:

Costs for the bridge continue to rise. The Quebec firm Pomerleau is hired by regional council to build the new bridge for $69 million

APRIL 2014:

Construction of the new bridge begins.

MAY 2016:

Councillors pass a motion asking for the OPP or RCMP to investigate the project. NRP chief Jeff McGuire writes a letter criticizing the Region for not coming to him.

JUNE 2016:

With costs for the bridge reaching $90 million, regional council hires Deloitte Canada to conduct a $500,000 forensic audit.

NOVEMBER 2016:

Deloitte completes its audit and reports to council, which won’t discuss the findings publicly.

FEBRUARY 2017:

Regional council says it will release a redacted copy of the audit. Police services board asks McGuire to request an OPP investigation into Deloitte report. McGuire sends the request to the provincial police.

MARCH 2017:

Council votes not to release the audit report to the public on March 3, after McGuire says it should not be released because of the OPP investigation. The Standard obtains a copy of the report and publishes a story on March 17, which points out the Deloitte audit makes no allegations of criminal wrongdoing

MAY 2018:

Regional council asks the City of St. Catharines to investigate its own forensic audit of its bridge project records. The city refuses, calling the request a distraction.