Opening of the Gertrude Street Bridge has been further delayed until the end of April. City of Port Alberni Councillor Chris Alemany posted an update on social media on Friday, March 24, 2016 noting the bridge won’t reopen “until the end of April.”
“Old infrastructure makes for difficult proceedings,” Alemany posted.
The bridge was originally built in the 1930s. The city put out a request for proposals to replace and widen the bridge in September 2015 and K&G Installations was the successful bidder. Work began on the bridge in December 2015; costs have risen and a planned three week closure has already stretched to six weeks, and will now stretch even longer.
There are two main issues that have extended the scope of the bridge contract, Alemany attributed to streets superintendent Wilf Taekema: the ballast walls at each abutment were deteriorated and needed to be replaced; and irregularities in the existing structure “resulted in difficulties in casting and fitting precast concrete deck panels.
“Neither of these main issues could be identified until the existing bridge deck was removed,” according to Taekema’s brief.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the public’s patience.”
For some background on the issue:
City to widen bridge along Gertrude Street
Costs to Gertrude Street Bridge escalate
Gertrude Bridge widening project delayed
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