Dartmouth bus terminal expansion delayed

Construction of a long-awaited new Metro Transit bus terminal at the Dartmouth Sportsplex has been delayed again, this time due to concerns about storm water drainage.

The Halifax Regional Municipality has been trying for more than two years to upgrade and expand the facility.

Earlier this year, Halifax Regional Council finally approved a $12-million version of the bus terminal with a pedway and an elevator. Although the construction should have started by now, there are new concerns about water drainage.

"We need some additional assurances that we have the right kind of storm water drainage on that site," said Shaune MacKinlay, a spokeswoman for the Halifax Regional Municipality.

"This is a very large area and it would collect quite a good deal of water on a wet day so we need to ensure that we have the most efficient and effective storm water drainage system that we can going into the storm water system that's already there."

MacKinlay said it's too early to say if any of the changes needed will add to the cost of the project. It's also not clear whether part of the facility will have to be redesigned, or if the entire plan will have to be retendered.

Jim Smith, the councillor for Albro Lake-Harbourview, said he's disappointed and frustrated by the latest delay.

"It's more than a surprise, very frustrating," he told CBC News.

"I don't know if it's jinxed or not but we've certainly been going through a lot of hoops for this one — more than we usually do for a project."

Halifax Regional Municipality staff are still hoping the project can get underway this summer. Once the work begins, it will take one year to finish the new facility.