The City of Vancouver is not commenting on the latest lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court over the much embattled 70-year-old Granville Street Bridge, which is spanning four legal disputes regarding its rehabilitation work.
In the four lawsuits, the city has skirted commenting on the legal disputes.
Jamac Painting and Sandblasting, based in New Brunswick, is at the centre of the latest dispute and is alleging there were payment breaches by the city on the $5.766,482 (plus applicable taxes) contract it was granted on May 5, 2022 for structural repair and recoating of the Granville Bridge, phase one. The contract term was expected to be six months, according to the information published by the city’s chief procurement officer in a bid committee report pending approval by council.
Council minutes for May 2022 indicate the project term was six months with an optional extension “at the city’s discretion” with payment “not to exceed $5,766,482.”
Jamac’s lawsuit alleges the city would pay it for any changes that extended the contract work and that the city was to ensure the bridge was in a condition that would facilitate the agreed upon work on the structure.
Jamac alleges “design breaches” caused delays, inefficiencies and additional expenses. These deficiencies were the bridge’s expansion joints, surrounding bolts and rubber troughs which allowed water, road salt and debris into the structural members impeding the work.
The steel repairs “far exceeded” the contract specifications, Jamac claims. Changes and disruptions, such as the city requiring night shift work without adequate compensation and providing inadequate staging room for equipment, all caused delays and increased costs.
Jamac billed the city for the extra work required and delays, but the city has refused payment.
Jamac’s allegations have not been proven in court. While Jamac has filed against the city, the city had not responded to the claim at press time.
Asked if the city had comment on the suit and if it planned to respond, the city did not answer.
“As this matter is before the court, the city is unable to comment,” said city spokesperson Tessa Smith.
The Journal of Commerce was unable to reach a Jamac spokesperson.
The city, in 2024, launched suits over the bridge work against three local contractors over what the city called deficiencies in repairs done during 2019 and 2021. Again, those allegations have not been taken into the courtroom and tested.
None of the three companies filed a response in 2024 within the 21-day required response time. The city refused comment on the 2024 lawsuits or whether its legal actions against Associated Engineering, Ross Rex Industrial Painting and Graham Infrastructure, have been settled or dropped, according to press reports.
The 2024 lawsuit the city filed against the three contractors alleged several defects and deficiencies, including failing to apply caulking, improperly applying sealer and installing faulty rubber troughs that allowed salty water to spill on to the structure below.
Vancouver is alleging Associated Engineering designed and inspected the work, Graham was general contractor and Ross Rex was the painting subcontractor, and it sought unspecified costs and damages.
Media reports said the companies have not responded to email and telephone requests for clarification or comment.
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