Councillor demands answers on footbridge delay
Anyone involved with the botched construction of the Airport Parkway pedestrian bridge will be held accountable, said one city councillor who is clearly annoyed with the project’s delays.
River Ward Coun. Maria McRae issued a stern warning in an interview Tuesday, saying she will find out who is responsible for the problems with the $5-million bridge being built over the Airport Parkway just north of Hunt Club Road.
The bridge, which was expected to be open in May 2012, ran into problems last year when the tower on the east side of the parkway had to be torn down because the poured concrete was deemed unsafe. McRae said work is progressing and a new tower is nearly completed, but even she cannot get a projected date for when the pathway will be open.
“I’m going to do absolutely everything in my power to make sure that city staff, the designer and the contractor are held accountable for their roles and their legal responsibilities,” she said. “I’m looking for accountability for everybody who had an operational role with this bridge.”
When built, the bridge off Cahill Drive West is supposed to give a safe connection for cyclists and pedestrians between Hunt Club and places east of the parkway, including the South Keys shopping centre and Transitway stop. The tower, which will support the concrete deck of pathway, is designed to be a gateway to the city for people driving in from the Ottawa International Airport.
But last year, one month before the bridge was scheduled to open, the contractor Louis W. Bray Construction informed the city the tower had to be torn down because of an inefficiency with the concrete.
Since then, a new tower is nearly complete, with work remaining to attach an anchorage, the concrete deck, and support cables. McRae said the work is about 75 per cent done, but she cannot get an answer about when the pathway will open.
“It’s exceedingly frustrating that city engineers will not provide that date, but given the problems the contractor had the first time, city staff want to be sure this bridge is built to the highest possible standard,” she said.
She continues to hear complaints from residents driving by the site because they are baffled by how long the project has taken. “I’m continually frustrated with the inordinate delays on this project and I share not only my residents’ concerns and their frustrations, but also the concerns and frustrations of the general public that are driving by that area,” she said. “The notion that it’s not built is beyond what people can contemplate. We may cut the ribbon on that bridge, but I’m still going to be pushing for accountability.”
McRae could not explain the precise reason for deficiency in the concrete, but said samples taken from the original tower led to some safety concerns.