MONTREAL -- About $16 million in water main repairs on Pine Ave. must be redone, one year after it began, after tests on the finished pipe showed a leak in the system.

Construction workers will now be forced to rip up the fresh pavement to correct the problem, after they attempted various techniques to locate the hole in the water main.

The leak, which was detected through use of cameras and ultrasounds, is under a 250-metre stretch of road between Aylmer St. and Dr-Penfield Ave.

That water main serves some 500,000 people in Montreal.

Construction Louisbourg Ltd., the company responsible for the project, has agreed to cover the cost, lightening the burden on the city of Montreal and ultimately local taxpayers.

The city said it will avoid ripping up the entire stretch if possible.

“We're going to divide the 250-metre portion by half, so if we're lucky, we can find it on the 125-metre portion,” explained Montreal city spokesperson Jacques-Alain Lavallee. “If that's the case we'll re‑open to traffic the portion that is not necessary to excavate.”



The repairs, however, will affect access to the Royal Victoria Hospital, an ongoing issue for staff and patients there.

The hospital has confirmed it will ensure that access for its emergency vehicles won't be compromised during this time.

The hospital is preaching patience through the ongoing construction.

“We have had to ask patients and staff to remain calm and patient during this time, but I think everyone has been because they realize it is necessary work that has to go on.

It was basically a little more of the same for a little while longer,” said MUHC spokesperson Ian Popple.

The hospital is reminding patients with appointments at the Royal Vic to consider the delays and leave earlier.