According to Chris Thibert, Director of Engineering & Transportation at the Municipality, “vandalism and trespassing has been identified on the Lord Selkirk Bridge. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent would like to remind the public to please respect the traffic and pedestrian control measures in place during construction on the bridge. These controls are put in place for the safety of both the public and construction workers alike.”
Councillor Aaron Hall says it’s a frustrating situation.
“The on-site contractors have had to invest in some additional barriers and fencing and labour, which is beyond the scope of their original contractor.”
Hall couldn’t comment on whether the vandalism is connected to the incidents at the Fifth Street Bridge.
“The contractor heard that apparently there were some posts on Facebook showing people on the bridge when the contractor was off-site, so obviously we don’t recommend this, it’s not safe. People need to stay off the bridge and away from the site as they’ll be putting their lives at risk if they do so,” says Hall.
Municipal officials are asking anyone with any information about this incident to contact Chatham-Kent Police Services immediately.