Delays with the report on the Island Park Bridge didn't stop residents from raising the issue at last night's Portage la Prairie City Council meeting at the William Glesby Centre.

AECOM was set to make their final report to Council last night, outlining final cost estimates and recommendations from the project. However, they were unable to get the document in place in time for the meeting. While not on the agenda, multiple residents stood up during Question Period to comment or question Council's decisions.

Speaking on the issue for the first time during question period was resident and former MLA David Faurschou. While many of those to comment on the issue focused on the Tupper Street versus the Royal Road alignment, Faurschou cited studies conducted in the 1960s and 80s in suggesting an alternative. He says when business and commercial development on Island Park was discussed in the past, those studies made it clear the road shouldn't interfere with the residential area, rather suggesting a bridge be created between Highway 240, at the east end of Crescent Lake, to Brandon Avenue on the island.

"To dismiss the Brandon Avenue access point, which was done here tonight, is extraordinarily disappointing, to say that the cost consideration deemed it not to be considered."

After several questions on the bridge and its alignment, Mayor Irvine Ferris clearly stated Council's position. He cited the numerous public engagement opportunities last year, which showed 63 per cent of respondents preferred the three-lane causeway between Royal Road and Island Park, as he emphasized the City would not be looking at any other alignments. 

Mayor Irvine Ferris listens to questions

"We spent a lot of time engaging citizens, doing surveys, and taking that feedback. At this stage of the game to ignore that feedback and change our minds would be a waste of time, effort, and dollars."

The consultant's final report is expected to come at Council next meeting, which is set for September 12th. The last presentation from AECOM saw a substantial increase in the cost of the project, from the initially proposed $6.5 million, to between nine and ten million. Since that time AECOM's been tasked with finding savings, with the removal of the three large arched culverts one of the suggestions.