After years of setbacks, construction of the new health centre in Tulı́t’a, N.W.T., is nearing completion, according to the territory’s health department.
The cost of the project has more than tripled from the original budget of $18.9 million to $61.1 million, according to the Department of Infrastructure.
The new health-care facility replaces the community’s aging Harriet Gladue Health Centre. It was first slated to open in 2021 but was delayed due to pandemic-related travel restrictions and supply chain challenges.That meant that some building materials in Tulı́t’a languished for several years, becoming warped and mouldy from weather and moisture damage, rendering them unusable for a health-care facility.
According to the territory’s Department of Health and Social Services, replacing the damaged materials cost over $1 million.In an email to CBC News, the Department of Infrastructure said the $18.9 million budget was signed pre-pandemic. A revised contract was signed after the pandemic for $46.4 million.
“During the lockdown, the project had to be stopped and restarted after the pandemic ended,” the statement said. “The revised contract acknowledged time delays and increased labour and material costs.”
Barging season delays also increased costs, according to the department.
“Materials intended to be shipped to site by barge were not able to be shipped that way,” the email said, adding that materials that were flown in or hauled over the winter road were more costly.
