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“In some places, springs are good. But not on a school site,” says Brian Fedor, the province’s assistant deputy minister of infrastructure, responsible for new school construction.

They decided to cap the well. That, says Fedor, is when they found methane gas.

The methane was in low concentrations — seven or eight parts per million. But there were concerns it could build up beneath the school, creating a risk of an explosion. Alberta Infrastructure now plans to add methane detectors, fans and a revamped exhaust system. That, too, has added cost and complications.

Because the ground was waterlogged, contractors needed to drive in pilings to raise the school off the ground. The pilings went in, many were ruined by the freeze-thaw cycle of the waterlogged site.

“Our technical term is that the pilings failed,” Fedor says, dryly.

Crews spent the summer demolishing the pilings so construction could start over. Now, they have to dig out all the wet earth and replace it with sand and gravel fill. With so few visible signs of progress, it’s small wonder people in Two Hills are frustrated. But site supervisor Steve Martin, who works for the contractor, Jen-Col, says his team is doing its best.

“We’ve been slugging our guts out in the mud,” Martin says. “I focus on the nuts and bolts. And right now, this water is my focus.”

The school had an original budget of $15.9 million. The projected cost is now $26 million.

The solution seems obvious: build elsewhere. But Fedor and Starosielski say there isn’t a lot of serviced land in Two Hills. The town’s high water table means there’s no guarantee that another site wouldn’t have similar problems. The province and the school board have considered one possible alternate site, near the hospital, but they would still have to buy the land. Starosielski says the district hasn’t got the money. If the school was built elsewhere, adds Fedor, they would still have to spend money to secure and restore the current site. Alberta Infrastructure estimates it would cost at least $35 million to start in a new location.