Bill Hogan said the town received an update from the province on the work Tuesday (June 19) and prefabrication is taking place away from the site.
“We’re very unhappy with it. It was supposed to be finished by the end of June,” Hogan said.
“We have a very busy summer here with all the festivities we have going on. The heavy stuff starts tomorrow and to have the bridge interfering with that when we were promised it wouldn’t, it’s procrastination of the worst kind with that crowd.”
The Sir Ambrose Shea lift bridge has a 13,000-kilogram weight restriction in place, which will remain for the duration of the construction work.
Hogan said the bridge is central to the town and is crucial to transportation around the area.
In May, the provincial government awarded a $1.7-million contract for the work.
A previous plan to replace the bridge was scrapped when the only tender came in at nearly double the province’s $24 million estimate for the project. With the two prices so out of whack, the province decided at that time to look at extending the life of the current bridge.
Hogan said he hopes the repairs will extend the life of the bridge for four to six years and a new tender for replacement will be called later this summer.
The Telegram
