Long-awaited repairs to the Ross River suspension bridge may cost $1 million more than expected.

The governments of Canada and the Yukon announced in January a joint investment of $3 million for rehabilitation of the aging footbridge.

Ottawa pledged up to $2.25 million from its Small Communities Fund, and the Yukon government said it would put up $750,000.

Community Services Minister John Streicker told the legislative assembly last month that Ottawa had contributed $2.1 million for the Ross River suspension bridge.

The deadline for companies to place bids on the bridge contract closed Wednesday.

The lowest submission, made by Vancouver-based company Surespan Construction Ltd., comes in at just under $4 million.

All four companies that bid on the contract are based outside the Yukon. The next-lowest bid is for $5.06 million.

According to the tender issued by the Yukon government, work on the bridge is to be finished by March 31, 2018.

In a January news release, however, the government said it expects work to be complete by the end of this summer.

But with cost estimates greatly exceeding the amount alloted for the bridge, it’s unclear if the project will go ahead as planned.

The Community Services department could not confirm the status of the project to the Star before today’s press deadline.

Built in the 1940s, the footbridge was decommissioned in 2013 after an inspection revealed it was “at imminent risk of failure,” said the Yukon government in a press release this past January.

It has been closed to the public ever since.

The Yukon government committed to repairing the 213-metre bridge in 2014.

So far, it has spent more than $1.5 million on design work and on stabilizing the north and south towers.

The next phase of rehabilitation includes the installation of new stairs, cables and decking.

Other than the footbridge, the only way across the Pelly River in the Ross River area is by ferry.

The Pelly Barge runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, and typically stops operations for the winter in October.

The Star could not reach Ross River Dena Council Chief Jack Caesar nor councillors for comment on the situation today.

In January, Streicker said the footbridge is important to the community.

“Both chief and council as well as the community expressed the significant value of the bridge and support to move forward with the repairs,” he said.

“Thanks to Ross River folks for their patience and understanding while these repairs are being made.”

The Yukon government is already squeezed for cash.

This year’s budget estimated a modest surplus of $6.5 million and projected deep deficits for the following three years, starting at $48.9 million in 2018-19.

And the Ross River bridge isn’t the only project showing unanticipated costs.

A structural review of the Ross River School done in the spring revealed a number of issues with the building, which sits atop heaving permafrost.

Engineers strongly recommended the school be relevelled this summer, which would cost an estimated $1.2 million.

Other options, such as moving portables into the community, are also being considered.

Other projects, such as repairs to bridges on the North Canol Road that would enable the transport of heavy mining equipment, have been put on hold because, the government says, there simply isn’t money to do everything.