Victoria has replaced its project manager on the $92.8-million Johnson Street Bridge replacement, Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin confirmed Monday.

Fortin said the change is not indicative of a project in trouble. “This is indicative of making sure the project remains on budget and on time,” he said. “We will do what we need to do to keep that commitment.”

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Ken Jarvela, bridge project manager since September 2012, has been replaced by Jonathan Huggett, a consultant brought in after bridge contractor PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. submitted a change order to the city for an additional $7.9 million to complete its work.

“The City of Victoria has parted ways with Mr. Ken Jarvela,” Fortin said in an interview. “All of the project team — representatives of PCL and MMM, we all came together. All three parties will be making changes to the management team to ensure we continue to deliver what we need and what we promised on time and on budget.”

Before coming to Victoria, Jarvela, an engineer with 30 years’ experience, had worked on several municipal projects, including as project manager for the $160-million construction of the second span of the Blue Water Bridge, which crosses the St. Clair River between Point Edward, Ont., and Port Huron, Michigan.

Fortin said the change was made last week.

When hired, Jarvela replaced Mike Lai, who quit the project to return to his previous job as Saanich’s manager of transportation.

Last month, city manager Jason Johnson hired Huggett for $15,000 as an independent consultant to assess risks associated with the project.

Huggett was to review all contract documents, interview key staff, the engineering consultants at MMM Group (the city’s lead consultant on the project) and representatives from contractor PCL Constructors Westcoast, and to make recommendations. He was believed to have reported his findings to Victoria council in an in-camera session last month.

Huggett’s hiring came after PCL filed a change order March 17 saying it needed $7.9 million and 51Ú2 months more to complete the project.

City staff said the change order focused on two major issues: a delay in completion of the bridge design and an increase in the scope of the project.

MMM Group, which is overseeing the project on the city’s behalf, has recommended rejecting PCL’s request.

While change orders are said to be common in large projects, Fortin has been firm in his position that the city has a fixed price construction contract worth $62.9 million with a $2.815-million construction contingency for the bridge.

bcleverley@timescolonist.com