The most expensive project in Winnipeg is set to cost even more.
The latest estimate for upgrades to the North End sewage treatment plant is rising from $795 million to more than one billion dollars.
City officials say the increase is partially attributed to the US exchange rate and electrical costs.
They say because of its complex nature, the project's financial impact is "extremely risky."
Geoff Patton, the city's manager of engineering for water and waste, says it’s like trying to renovate your kitchen while still using it on a daily basis.
“We have to maintain a plant that treats 70% of the sewage for the City of Winnipeg while we're upgrading it at the same time,” said Patton.
Patton says once work is tendered on the open market in 2019, construction should take between three and five years.
The new facility will help decrease Winnipeg's nutrient contribution to Lake Winnipeg from 4%-6% to 2%-3%.
Work could begin on the facility in 2019, with a possible completion date by 2024.
