CORNWALL, Ontario – The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) confirmed that the work being done on the Avonmore Rd. bridge should be completed by the end of May 2018.
Construction began on the bridge at the end of April 2017 and was scheduled to be completed by the end of this past November.
“The completion and opening of the Avonmore Road Bridge has been delayed due mostly to two issues; the late supply of girders by the contractor and deficient work which has required extensive repairs to properly correct and ensure quality,” the MTO said in an email to Seaway News. “The ministry apologizes for these delays.”
The MTO said that it was sensitive to the issues caused by the long delay in the completion of this project.
“In the case of the Avonmore Road Bridge replacement, the impacts have been significant because the new bridge did not open as scheduled, which resulted in longer term detours along Municipal roads,” the MTO stated. “The ministry’s priority is to work with its contractor to open this bridge as quickly as we can, however it will not reopen until the work has been completed to the ministry’s satisfaction.”
Once Avonmore Rd. bridge is re-opened, the Wales Dr. bridge will then be closed for replacement. That bridge is scheduled to re-open in the fall of 2018.
The MTO said that the total cost of the contract was $6.95 million, and that there has been no increased cost due to the delay.
Cruickshank Construction Limited was the company awarded the contract for the replacement of these bridges. Cornwall Seaway News spoke with Steve Cruickshank of Cruickshank Construction who said that under the terms of their contract with MTO they were unable to comment on this story.
