Staff are now to look into other options and will report back in three weeks. The contract estimate was of  the order of CA$60 million (US$55 million) but the lowest of six valid bids submitted late last year came in at US$64.7 million. The highest was US$87.6 million, submitted by Aecon. The council had received seven tenders, but one from Dragados Canada had found to be incomplete and was rejected. The remaining six were valid, though five had arithmetical corrections that needed correcting.

Regional staff had recommended that the council's public works committee award the contract, Pomerleau, and set out the rationale for accepting the lowest bid. Consultant Delcan backed the decision. But the councillors want to see if cost-saving alternatives can be identified.