Calgary flood damage to cost city $256M

Calgary officials say it will cost at least $256.5 million to repair damage from the flooding that devastated parts of the citylast month.

The preliminary estimates were discussed by aldermen on the finance committee, whichmet Tuesday in a temporary space in the citys northeast because city hall in downtown Calgary is not yet fully open.

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Damage to the city hall complex will cost $26.5 million to repair, officials said. The historic sandstone building will not reopen until late July or even August.

Committee members were told the Calgary Zoo suffered $50 million worth of flood damage, the Central Library needs $10 million in repairs, and the Talisman Centre, a multi-sports complex on the Elbow River, sustained $6.2 million in damage.

Structural damage to the Calgary Police Services downtown administration building will cost more than $31 million to fix, the committee heard.

The tally so far for damage to Calgary Transit facilities is $11.7 million, including $8.2 million to repair the south C-Train line.

Flooding at the McDougall and Civic Centre parkades will cost $33.9 million to fix, transportation department officials said.

According to a city report, repairing flood damage will significantly affect future budgets, although the city is expected to recover some costs from other levels of government.