03 Mar Hog’s Back Road Swing Bridge Construction Completion Delayed to August 2020
UPDATE MARCH 3, 2020:
Hog’s Back Road Swing Bridge Project Delayed
On Thursday, February 20, I was notified by the National Capital Commission (NCC) that the work to repair and replace components on the Hog’s Back Road Swing Bridge will require an additional three months to complete. The delayed opening has been pushed to August 28th, 2020. I have been in contact with the NCC and Parks Canada as well as the City’s Traffic Branch to discuss the impact that this extended closure will have on the public. Current detours will remain in effect and additional information will be shared with the public as it becomes available.
The NCC noted two reasons for the delay:
- Several of the NCC’s initial tender packages originally went unanswered which set the project back. NCC lost a significant amount of time retendering components of the work. This is specialized work with many components that requires highly skilled workers. All tenders are fulfilled and work is ongoing.
- When they took the bridge structure components apart they were in worse condition than originally thought. No components were salvageable. This required full component replacement.
Over the next few weeks, City traffic staff will be reviewing the impacts on traffic of a short-term double bridge closure on Hog’s Back Road with the NCC and Parks Canada. Work is currently ongoing on the fixed bridge structure over the Hog’s Back Falls. Parks Canada will not be shifting their work schedule. Their contractor is scheduled to mobilize to site on May 1 with the structure expecting to be closed on May 12 for repairs to begin. Parks Canada advised that shifting any part of their project schedule would put the project into summer 2021. The entire project is still on track to be completed late December 2020.
There are two key milestones for the fixed bridge contract:
- Steel girders are currently being fabricated and are scheduled for delivery in early August.
- Final asphalt paving needs to occur in November or before the asphalt plants shut down for the season. If the schedule is delayed and the paving does not occur before December 2020, then the project completion will be delayed to summer 2021 for final paving.
Pedestrian and cyclist access will continue to be maintained during the construction period, and Rideau Canal navigation will not be interrupted. Work will be undertaken Monday to Friday, between 7am and 8pm, and on occasional Saturdays and Sundays.
I intend to provide the community with further information from the NCC on their project delays in the coming weeks.
ORIGINAL POST, DATED FEB 24, 2020:
My office has received the following advisory from the National Capital Commission regarding the delayed completion of the swing bridge repair on Hog’s Back Road.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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Hog’s Back Swing Bridge Rehabilitation Continues Until August 28, 2020
As announced in August 2019, components of the Hog’s Back Swing Bridge have reached the end of their life cycle, and the National Capital Commission (NCC) is undertaking rehabilitation work to extend the bridge’s service life another 20 to 30 years.
Although work is progressing well, challenges during the procurement and construction process will require the Hog’s Back Swing Bridge to be closed an additional three months, until August 28th, 2020. The NCC regrets the impact that this extended closure will have on the public and is working with its partners, including Parks Canada and the City of Ottawa, to help mitigate the effects to traffic.
Current detours will remain in effect and additional information will be shared with the public as it becomes available.
Pedestrian and cyclist access will continue to be maintained during the construction period, and Canal navigation will not be interrupted.
Work will be undertaken Monday to Friday, between 7 am and 8 pm, and on occasional Saturdays and Sundays.
The NCC urges motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to exercise caution, respect working crews and equipment, and obey signage and flag persons at the site.
This project is part of the NCC’s major infrastructure projects made possible with the Government of Canada’s $55-million investment from the 2018 federal budget.