Montreal green lights $16.5M in contracts for Formula E

Montreal's executive committee has approved two contracts worth a total of $16.5 million to set up a track for the Formula E electric car racing circuit.

Thecity will play host in July to the final two races of Formula E's2016-17 season.

The series, which featuresfully electriccarsthat can reach speeds up to 225kilometersper hour,has only beenaround for three years.

The races will take place on city streets around the east-end of the city's Ville-Marie borough.

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Multimillion dollar contracts

The first contract, worth about $7.5 million, covers the procurementof metal and concrete barriers that will go around the track.

The contract went to public tenders and only two companies placed bids. The executive committee awarded the contract to Deric Construction Inc.

Deric now has until June to deliver 1,600 barriers, which will likely be stored in Montreal when not being used.

The summary of the contract notes that, because of the number of construction projects in and around Montreal, it may be difficult to produce all the barriers in time for the race.

• Racing fans excited about prospective Montreal Formula E race

The second contract approved, worth close to $9 million, is to pay for the setting up and taking down of the barriers.

The city received two bids after going to public tenders.EntrepriseTechlineInc. was awarded the contract.

The contract covers a period of six years and includes races from 2017-19.The three remaining years are renewable.

Longterm commitment?

There's been no mention that the race will be returning beyond next year.

These are not the first big contracts handed out in anticipation of the Formula E races.

In August,Ville-Marie approved a $4.6 million contract for road work on streets that will be used as part of the race track.

The city has already earmarked millions for another, larger race circuit Formula One.

The city pledged $32 million for the improvements as part of amultimilion-dollardeal reached two years ago to keep the race in Montreal until 2024.