Inuvik (May 16/03) - An Inuvik welder says the new bridge over Boot Lake Creek should be taken out and repaired before someone gets hurt.

Clovis Savoie, owner of Ulu Welding, made a presentation to Inuvik town council Monday night warning that the bridge has faulty welds and is a danger to the public.

"What's there is bubble gum," Savoie said, describing the welds. "That bridge should be removed before somebody has an accident."

When the project was first proposed, Savoie asked to be invited to bid, but the town said they were going to use college welding students to do the job. Savoie said he offered to do the work for free, but he wasn't called until it was too late.

When the town called him to do some work on the bridge after it had been put in place, Savoie inspected the welds and found most to be below standards laid out in the blueprint.

"I say that at least 70 per cent of the bridge is faulty," Savoie said.

"It's not safe," he said. "You put 20 kids on that bridge and it's going down."

Dennis Althouse, manager of Public Works and Services, said they are taking steps to have a journeyman welder repair the necessary welds on the structure.

He said there were "some miscommunications" about having a journeyman welder instruct the welding students.

"We were supposed to have a journeyman welder giving the course and apparently, the welds aren't as nice as they should be," Althouse said.

They had to have the bridge up before the river thawed and Althouse said they plan to fix it in place.

"We're hiring a journeyman welder to grind out the welds that aren't so good and he'll replace them," Althouse said, adding that the estimate he has is for $8,600.

He said the bridge was built for a fraction of the original estimated cost, so even with repairs, the project is still a good deal.

"Either way, we're still way ahead of the game, because we just put in a $300,000 bridge for $58,000," he said.

Savoie said the bridge cannot be properly repaired in place and needs to be dismantled.

David Musslewhite, boiler inspector for the Department of Public Works and Services, agrees.

"If I had the authority, I'd pull the bridge right off there," Musslewhite said. "All the welds, in my opinion, have failed -- every one of them."

Althouse said they will get estimates from two other welders, consult with the project engineer and proceed with repair of the welds. Until then, the town will post signs warning the public.