Massive increases in construction prices mean the super library on LeBreton Flats will cost $141 million more to build compared to the original estimate.

But Coun. Matthew Luloff, chair of the Ottawa Public Library board, said council has no choice but to forge ahead since the city desperately needs a new flagship library and has a deal with Library and Archives Canada to build the facility.

“We are going to get so much more out of this building than we’re putting into it. It’s the largest investment in social infrastructure that the city has ever seen,” Luloff said Thursday as the city revealed the skyrocketing cost.

The finance and economic development committee will consider the budget increase during a meeting on Tuesday before sending a recommendation to council for an Oct. 27 meeting.

The library  has been named Ādisōke  and will be located at at 555 Albert St.

The city has already spent $30 million on site preparation.

When the construction tender process closed last month, PCL had the lowest bid in what became a two-way competition for the contract with EllisDon. Pomerleau also pre-qualified for the tender but dropped out of the competition.

The city now expects the facility will cost $334.16 million, 73 per cent more than the $192.9 million that was authorized in 2018.

For municipal taxpayers, it would mean the city would have to pay an extra $36 million and OPL would provide an extra $28 million, for a combined municipal increase of $64 million. On top of that, the city is adding $1.2 million for retail spaces but it believes the money can be recouped from revenue collected over four years.

To pay the extra costs, the city proposes using more of OPL’s reserves and development charge revenue, plus borrowing more money.

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