QEH demolition work gets new contractor

Demolition of the old Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax is back on track.

The province has hired a new contractor, Verhagen Demolition of New Glasgow, to finish the job.

Work at the site has been at a standstill since the end of June when the the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal cancelled its deal with the original contractor Demolition Resources Ltd. of Amherst for "non-performance."

The job was originally going to cost $2.1 million. Now the cost has risen by an additional $300,000 to $.2.4 million

Demolition work should resume in early August, and be complete by late September or early October.

Crews began tearing apart the interior of the building in October 2010, aiming for the original demolition completion deadline in December. That deadline was extended until the end of March.

After a contract dispute and more delays, the deadline was moved again, to mid-August.

Demolition Resources was placed in receivership in early July. One of the sub-contractors left unpaid was Verhagen Demolition, whichis out $7,000.