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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Nearly all the underwater work is completed on the south side of the Deh Cho Bridge, and even though the project is about a month behind, next year's work could begin on schedule, according to Andrew Gamble, project manager with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation.

A computer-generated view illustrating one of the Deh Cho Bridge's eight piers, which will hold up the structure. Andrew Gamble, project manager with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, said the four piers on the south side of the river are nearly completed. The four on the north side of the river will be constructed next spring. - photo courtesy of Andrew Gamble

Each side of the bridge is held up by four piers, which are set into the ground in three-metre-thick concrete slab footings buried in the riverbed. Four piers on the south side are nearly completed, said Gamble, with one footing requiring about a week's worth of repairs.

"Except for the little repair, the concrete work is all done," said Gamble.

"They hoped to be done all this by early November, and here we are, early December, and they are not quite finished," he said.

Gamble added if they get co-operation from the territorial and federal governments, the project could get back on schedule.

Currently, crews are doing underwater work using a temporary work bridge that stretches out from the south side of the riverbank.

The bridge is frozen-in now and must be dismantled before spring breakup. Originally, the temporary bridge was to be taken down after the construction of the four piers. However, the contractor is considering leaving the bridge in until spring to make the next stage of construction faster and cheaper, said Gamble.

"We would like to leave it in to get the pier beds done in February and March," said Gamble, who estimated it could cost around $1 million if they had to use barges and cranes to put in the beds.

The project needs to get the green light from the Canadian Coast Guard, which gave the corporation the permit for the work bridge, and the GNWT, which operates the Merv Hardie Ferry, to keep the work bridge in.

If either organization nixes the plan, the pier beds - triangle-shaped steel structures that will hold up the bridge structure - will have to be put in by barge or crane.

Kevin McLeod, director of highways with the Department of Transportation, said the government has not made a decision yet, but said they would support keeping the temporary bridge in place if it didn't interfere with the operation of the ferry.

"As long as it doesn't impact hugely on the GNWT transportation system, we will look favourably on it," he said.

Gamble said he expected word back from the groups in the next week or so.

Gamble called the construction of the piers the most challenging part of the project and said although they may be behind schedule now, they could catch back up by keeping in the temporary bridge.

"They are late in one sense, but on the other hand, if they get these pier beds up by March, then they will be starting their next season in June ... on schedule," he said.

In June, crews will begin putting in the four piers on the north side of the bridge.

Gamble said that work could move along more easily because workers gained experience this year and they've also done some preparatory pre-drilling work. He said the bridge will be completed "about this time in 2010."

The bridge, which inclines on a gradual scope and peaks in the middle, will have a 23-metre clearance over the river.

The cost of the bridge is around $160 million, according to the Department of Transportation.

Officials for the Canadian Coast Guard were not available for comment at press time.