A GTA-based contractor will be footing the bill for upcoming repairs to the Third Street Bridge in Chatham.
Contractor Toronto Zenith and a sub-contractor will replace deficient asphalt on both sides of the span next week after it failed to pass necessary quality control testing.
The span over the Thames River underwent a major $14 million rehabilitation project between May 2021 and August 2022, which closed the bridge for more than a year. Toronto Zenith was contracted for the project.
Brendan Falkner, CK’s manager of engineering, said material and compaction testing is conducted following all municipal infrastructure projects involving concrete and asphalt to ensure its long-term usability.
“All of the items in our contracts have specifications attached to them, so the contractor is expected to meet those specs with each item,” said Falkner. “Because the [asphalt] did not meet the specifications in the contract, they have to repair it.”
Falkner added that it’s not unusual for asphalt or concrete to occasionally fail quality inspections, and he commended Toronto Zenith for being easy to work with in rectifying the issue.
“Our contractors are pretty good at standing by their work and fixing it at their [expense] and making sure Chatham-Kent is getting the proper product that we paid for,” he said.
Aside from standard maintenance, Falkner said the bridge likely won’t require further repairs for the next two decades.
“It is unfortunate that we have to close it again just a year after opening it, but the reason for this is to ensure the long-term viability of the structure so we’re not closing it again until it needs another rehab again in another 20-plus years,” said Falkner.
The Third Street Bridge will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for repairs beginning on Monday, July 31 at 7 a.m., until Thursday, August 3 at 7 p.m.