'We want it to move ahead': Premier responds to Shoal Lake Freedom Road's rising price tag

Officials with Manitoba Infrastructure are working on ways to drop the "moving target"cost for a much-needed road to the isolated Shoal Lake 40 First Nationbut the premier says they want project to move ahead.

The initial cost toconstruct Freedom Road from Shoal Lake 40 First Nationwas estimated at$30 million.Internal documents from the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs obtained by CBC show the government knew the cost would be well over that, as much as $52 million dollars.

• Government officials knew $30M Shoal Lake road project could cost $52M when they announced it, documents show

On Friday, Manitoba Infrastructure confirmed the number is nowis now pegged at $54 million.

"We want it to move ahead,"Premier Brian Pallister said.

Shoal Lake was isolated about a century ago during the construction of the water intake system that has fed water to Winnipeg ever since. Despite providing Winnipeg with drinking water, the community itself has noclean drinking water of its own and hasbeen under a boil-water advisory for nearly two decades.

The new all-weather road will give year-round road access to Shoal Lake, which is still dependent on winter ice roads and ferries to get people to and from the First Nation.

Pallistersaidthat estimates areon the rise.

"Valuative work has been goingon and the initial cost estimate was a fraction of the cost estimate that it is now," Pallister said."It seems a moving target, but right now they are valuing and still doing additional design work."

• Shoal Lake 40 First Nation's Freedom Road a path to reconciliation: Chief

Officials with Manitoba Infrastructure are working on ways to drop the final price tag for the work, Pallister said.

The province, City of Winnipeg and federal government have all committed to fund the project. In March, Winnipeg City Council voted to increase its share of the construction work.

• City committee OK's funding for Shoal Lake road design

Manitoba Infrastructure is reviewing the design and cost estimate on the Freedom Road project to see if the estimate can be lowered.