SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With roughly $5 million in outstanding work yet to be done on the Deh Cho Bridge, another busy summer construction season awaits as the territorial government warns of traffic delays and possible closures required to finish the job.
Department of Transportation officials stress that none of these costs will be put on to taxpayers or change the total cost of the bridge over the Mackenzie River - currently estimated at $202 million.
A detailed document tabled in the legislative assembly by Transportation Minister David Ramsay on March 11 outlines the bridge's current deficiencies.
While the word "deficiencies" is not as serious as it may sound, dealing with the outstanding work does mean the bridge site will remain a construction zone throughout the summer, said Kevin McLeod, director of highways and marine division with the department.
"I think people have a negative reaction to the word 'deficiency,' but that's just a contractual term." he told Yellowknifer. "For this summer, people will see it's still a construction zone, with a 50 km/h speed limit and lots of workers around."
The bridge will also be closed to one lane of traffic between 10 and 15 times throughout the summer season, and may be closed completely a few times, which will take place after 10 p.m. when traffic lulls, said McLeod.
Approximately $2.2 million worth of the outstanding work is to replace, repair, or complete work done by Ruskin Construction Ltd., the main builder on site since Atcon Construction folded in January 2010. These items include removing scaffolding set up by the construction company, replacing temporary welds with permanent welds in the truss super structure, replacing bearings and lock-up devices which help the bridge stand up to wind, and adjusting the expansion joint.
These deficiencies were found during inspections by the Department of Transportation last fall and the department has held back money from Ruskin's contract, which it will release once the company has completed all its contractual requirements, said McLeod.
There are also two items under Ruskin's contract that have yet to be started: installing the last two lock-up devices, and completely demobilizing and cleaning up the camp site - including re-planting trees - on the south side of the river.
A lock-up is like a large, hydraulic piston that allows the bridge to absorb the wind load pushing against it, explained McLeod. There are to be 22 lock-ups installed on the bridge. Currently, Ruskin has installed 20, although some already need to be repaired or replaced to pass inspection.
"The bridge, essentially, acts like a big sail and the lock-ups act as shock absorbers to keep the bridge from moving," explained McLeod.
While these lock-ups - as well as other items yet to be repaired - are important pieces of the structure, none of the outstanding work threatens the safety of the bridge in the short term, McLeod stressed.
Also on the list of outstanding work to be done on the bridge are four items left over from the Atcon contract, including installing scour rock around all eight piers and building a temporary dam around Pier 3 south to inspect a depression in the concrete pad under the metal pier.
The GNWT previously received securities money from the Government of New Brunswick to address any deficiencies in Atcon's work, of which there is still $7 million remaining, said McLeod. While the cost of the repairs to Pier 3 south and installing the scour rock has yet to be determined, the department is confident there will be enough money to cover these projects.
Finally, there are six new works to be completed in 2013 that are the departments responsibility. This includes heightening the guard rail to accommodate bicycles, which is expected to cost $300,000.
"If folks want to walk across the bridge it's very safe to do so," added McLeod.
When the bridge was re-designed after the department took over the project, there was discussion on whether or not to include a pedestrian crosswalk. But after consulting with community members in Fort Providence and looking at how many pedestrians and cyclists had crossed on the ferry, it was determined a walkway was unnecessary, said McLeod.
That said, the bridge was designed to be able to support the weight of a walkway which can be added to the side of the structure in the future, he said.
Currently, there is a catwalk under the bridge, which is not open to the public. However this will be removed once all final inspections are complete.
Also included in the new work is the installation of Texas gates to ensure animals do not find their way onto the bridge. This is expected to cost about $500,000. To date, the wolf urine-soaked cardboard cutouts of wolves painted by Fort Providence students have been effective in deterring any errant bison and no animals have been seen on or near the bridge, said McLeod.
The most expensive new project is the electrical contract, which was recently awarded to Can Traffic, whose bid of $1.14 million came in under the $1.4 million the department had budgeted for.
The electrical contract includes the installation of safety lights for air and marine traffic and architectural lights, the installation of three emergency phones on the bridge, installing a lightning rod and grounding system on the tallest pylon, and permanently affixing Northwestel's fibre-optic cable under the bridge.
All of this work is expected to be completed in 2013, said McLeod.
Since opening on Nov. 30, the bridge has been holding up well to traffic and McLeod said he has received nothing but positive feedback from truck drivers who travel the route regularly. Students returning home in the spring have also been commenting that they enjoy not having to worry about making the last ferry or spending a night in Hay River as they wait for the crossing to open.
"Most of the comments I get is, 'They should have done it 10 years ago, why the big drama?'" he said.
Fact file
Deficiency Work required
on Deh Cho bridge
Deh Cho Bridge deficiencies:
Total costs: more than $4,814,500
Extra cost to taxpayers: $0
Current estimated cost of Deh Cho Bridge: $202 million
Work by Ruskin in need of updates or improvements:
Total cost: $2,194,500
Outstanding work includes: Removing scaffolding; replacing bearings and lock-up devices; repairing temporary welds; paint touch up on pylons and cables; repairs to expansion joints; general cleanup of deck, curbs and abutments.
Further work required from Ruskin to complete their contract:
Total cost: $380,000
Outstanding work includes: Installing additional lock-up devices, complete cleanup of site and camp site on south shore.
Deficiencies in work by Atcon:
Total cost: to be determined
Amount left in fund from Government of New Brunswick: $7 million
Outstanding work includes: $70,000 of work to complete welding inspections; supply and install scour rock around all eight piers - cost not determined; inspect and potentially repair underwater concrete foundation of Pier 3 south - cost not determined.
New work:
Total cost: $2,170,000
Responsible party: Department of Transportation
Work includes: Heighten guard rail, install Texas gates, electrical work, removal of temporary catwalk under bridge structure, finish welding on additional tie beams.
Source: Deh Cho Bridge Deficiencies, document tabled by Transportation Minister
David Ramsay in the Legislative Assembly on March 11
