Labour disruptions postpone replacement of Hwy. 417 Booth Street bridge again
The planned closure of a section of Hwy. 417 in Ottawa's west end this weekend for bridge replacement has been postponed, and labour disruptions have delayed the planned replacements of both the Booth and Rochester street bridges this summer.
Ontario's Ministry of Transportation confirms the planned closure of Highway 417 for the Booth Street bridge replacement this weekend has been postponed again. The work, originally scheduled for last weekend and then rescheduled to July 21 to 25, continues to be delayed by a strike in the construction sector.
"The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is planning on replacing the Booth Street bridges during a future full closure of Highway 417. However, the replacements are delayed due to the ongoing labour disruptions," the MTO said in a statement. "New dates for the replacements of the Booth Street bridges are dependent on the length of the current labour disruptions."
The MTO has also confirmed that the Rochester Street Bridge replacement set for Aug. 12-14, "has also been delayed."
According to their website, LiUNA Local 527 held a ratification vote on July 13, and, "The majority of the members voted to reject the Tentative Memorandum of Agreed Changes. As such, the NCRBA strike is still ongoing and picket lines will resume July 14."
An industry observer says over 1,000 employees are on strike.
"So all your major road works, your major sewer works, that you see around the city - they’re largely affected. There are non-union companies, of course, but the bigger jobs are generally done by unionized firms, so all those big jobs are being affected," said John Devries, Ottawa Construction Association president and general manager.
"Those jobs generally get shut down, because other unions won’t do striking unions’ scope of work; because of the team nature, the crews - they can’t go to work, so it affects that whole sector pretty well."
The ministry said the public would be informed of the new highway closure dates when they are confirmed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.