N.W.T. bridge ex-officials go to court

Two former top officials with the Deh Cho Bridge Corp. are going to court over the controversial $182-million bridge that's being built over the Mackenzie River.

Former project manager Andrew Gamble and design advisor Jivko Jivkov are seekingmore than $1 million that they say the bridge corporation owes them for their work on the project, which has been embroiled in controversy since construction began in 2008.

The Deh Cho Bridge Corp. was established as part of a public-private partnership with the Northwest Territories government to build and operate the one-kilometre bridge at Fort Providence, N.W.T.

Once built, the bridge will link Yellowknife and other North Slave communities to southern points year-round, eliminating the need for the current summer ferry and winter ice road services.

Government took over project

But following a series of design flaws, contract disputes and other controversies that delayed work on the bridge and inflated the project's price tag the N.W.T. government announced in February that it will take over the bridge project in its entirety.

As a result, Gamble and Jivkov were dismissed from the bridge corporation, which is now in the process of being dissolved.

According to documents filed with the N.W.T. Supreme Court on June 17, Gamble submitted a final invoice of $534,000 to the Deh Cho Bridge Corp. in April, while Jivkov has indicated that the corporation owes him $818,000.

Seeking arbitration

Under Gamble's agreement with the bridge corporation, he was supposed to be paid on a monthly basis for two years of work, totalling roughly $500,000. A 30 per cent bonus would be added if the work came in on budget, according to court documents.

Lawyers for Gamble and Jivkov are slated to appear in court on Friday to request that an arbitrator be appointed to resolve the dispute.

In a separate court action, the two ex-officials are trying to stop the N.W.T. government from stripping the Deh Cho Bridge Corp. of all its assets, in order to ensure there will be something left to collect if they win.

Ruskin Construction filed court action for money owed, but since that was filed, Ruskin was madegeneral contractor for the bridge.

A Quebec company Structal Steelis also suing the Dehcho Bridge Corporation saying it breached a contract to buy the company's steel.

AtconConstruction, of Miramichi, N.B. claims it is still owed roughly $20 million for the work it did on the bridge.