Due to several unforeseen complications with construction, the Third Street Bridge in Chatham will remain closed for another six months.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said the bridge rehabilitation project has been met with labour and material shortages since the $14 million project began on April 26. A flood on September 24 also resulted in significant delays.
The bridge was originally slated to open two lanes for vehicle traffic at the end of November. However, the municipality said on Thursday that the bridge is not expected to be in service until the end of June 2022.
“The remaining work on the project involves construction-related activities that are temperature sensitive to ensure proper curing and quality control. This project is a significant investment in the community and it is important that it is constructed in weather conditions that will not compromise the long-term structural integrity of the bridge,” the municipality said in a news release. “For these reasons, Chatham-Kent and Toronto Zenith have agreed that it is in the best interest to halt construction during the winter months and resume in the spring when weather conditions are more favourable.”
Current detours to the Fifth Street Bridge and Lacroix Street Bridge will remain in place during the winter, the municipality said.
