Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt is calling for an investigation into delays on the Plessis Rd underpass project.

He also wants the director of Public Works, Brad Sacher, suspended.

"I want an investigation done by the CAO, led by our new CAO, into how this project has been allowed to be botched one time after another," he said Thursday.

The $77 million project is over budget by 8.4 million and the schedule for final completion is now been estimated to be no later than March 31, 2017, as opposed to March 31, 2016.

Wyatt said costs are still going up.

The city was required to have two lanes of Plessis between Dugald Road and Kernaghan Avenue open to traffic by the end of this July. Instead the city wants that deadline pushed back to October 31, 2015.

The city also wants to move the deadline for completion of all four lanes of the project to Sept. 30, 2016, a full year behind schedule.

Wyatt also questioned whether the city has rescinded bonuses or penalty clauses with construction firms connected to the project, and whether federal funding is in jeopardy given the delays.

"You know, this is a 'Here we go again,' kind of thing. We had the same thing with the downtown police headquarters where we were told we had an iron clad contract and agreement in terms of a price and then we found out afterwards we didn't. ... So it's another excuse upon excuse that we've seen with the city."

Letter to feds 'slap in the face' for Winnipeg

Wyatt also took issue with a letter Elmwood - Trancona MP Lawrence Toet wrote to the federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel.

The city councillor said it was a "slap in the face" for the city.

Toet's letter, which Wyatt read out loud, outlines Toet's concerns about delays on the Plessis project and calls them an "embarrassment for the city."

Wyatt said it's clear Toet is looking at getting re-elected this fall.

"This is his way of saving face in light of the fact they're going into a federal election," Wyatt said.

'Most difficult project in thirty years of being an engineer'

Public works director Brad Sacher said the delays on Plessis are not being taken lightly and feels for the residents living near the project.

Sacher says the federal government has given outstanding support and assistance to the project.

He said he personally revised the budget for the Plessis project upwards, to approximately $25 million from the original estimates to the $77 million it stands at now.

Sacher said the design was still on-going when the work began.

"[It has been a] very difficult project from the very beginning," he said. "It's the most difficult project I've experienced in my thirty years of being an engineer."

Sacher said they "tried to overturn every rock and look at every place to make the deadline."