The Construction Climate In Thunder Bay!
At this time we have experienced over 1 year of the onset of Covid 19 and living in a pandemic. This environment has definitely affected construction activities. Many projects that were underway have been able to complete or get closer to completion. Others have tried to start and may have experienced closure as the Ontario government has imposed restrictions.
The new athletic building at Lakehead University is complete and fitted up just ready to allow opening! There are two projects ongoing at the waterfront with the overpass and the work on the parking roof structure at the condos.
We have outlined the exciting new Finnish Labour Temple project in this issue.
Some work has begun on a new outdoor pavilion structure at the Whitewater Golf Course. Construction had begun on a new building for an engineering firm near the Twin City Crossroads and Arthur Street. There are some apartment projects underway. The city of Thunder Bay have awarded some road work and sewer projects.
Here are the recent Ontario restrictions currently in effect until May 20th,2021. Construction
As of April 17, all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector will be closed, with only essential construction permitted to operate. Examples of nonessential sites may include shopping malls, hotels and office towers.
Critical infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, roads and bridges will continue. Residential construction that has already started will continue.
Essential construction
Construction activities or projects and related services (including land surveying and demolition services) are essential if they:
• are associated with the health care sector or long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space
• ensure safe and reliable operations of, or provide new capacity in: municipal infrastructure provincial infrastructure, including but not limited to, the transit, transportation, resource, energy and justice sectors
• support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage, natural gas distribution, transmission and storage or in the supply of resources
• support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, schools, colleges, universities or child care centers within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
* industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance or enhancement of personal protective equipment, medical devices such as ventilators and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic
• would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products
• were started before April 17, 2021 and would provide additional capacity:
* for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services
* in the operation and delivery of Information Technology (IT) services or telecommunications services
* to, or enhance the efficiency or operations of, businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials
• support the operations of broadband internet and cellular technologies and services
See their Ontario website for further details.