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If the certification process confirms the substantial completion, it could mean Saskatoon residents might finally be seeing completion of one of the most contentious projects in the city’s history.

“The city’s consultants are reviewing EllisDon’s application and substantial completion has not yet been certified,” the city’s director of major projects, Dan Willems, said in an email on Friday. “Work is continuing onsite.”

The saga began in 2001 when a $13-million expansion of the Mendel Art Gallery, which opened in 1964, was proposed. The expansion was slated to be completed by 2006, but struggled to attract funding.

In 2009, city council voted to build a new $55-million art gallery at River Landing, despite strong opposition to abandoning the Mendel. At that point, the new gallery was supposed to be complete by 2012.

By the time construction began in 2013, the price had jumped to $93.7 million and completion was expected in the spring of 2016.

If you include the parkade and the city’s estimate for the land, the cost has risen to at least $106.32 million. But estimates suggest it remains $2.5 million to $4.5 million over budget, meaning the final cost could be anywhere between $108.82 million and $110.82 million.

The delays of the past two years have been attributed to construction drawings that needed to be corrected, resulting in changes and cost overruns.

“You’re not going to put a Picasso in a building that’s not 100 per cent ready,” Kazda said, referring to the Picasso linocut collection that will be exhibited at the gallery.