Repairing LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. to take 8 to 10 weeks: Federal government
The federal government says repairs on the damaged LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. could take approximately two more months to complete.
Public Services and Procurement Canada said in a statement on Friday that repairs would take an estimated eight to 10 weeks, barring any unforeseen complications.
"The first phase of work, which involves strengthening various elements of the bridge and completing essential contractual work to prepare for the repairs, is currently underway," PSPC said. "Once this work is completed, the second phase will begin. It will focus on repairing the damage to the diagonal steel element and further strengthening the structure. Successful repair work will enable the resumption of pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle and marine traffic."
The bridge, which is owned and operated by the federal government, was damaged during routine construction on March 30. It connects drivers and pedestrians in the east end of Kingston to downtown. Executive director of Kingston Accommodation Partners Krista LeClair says the closure has already had an impact.
"We've seen a decrease in pedestrian traffic downtown by 15 per cent already and it's just going to get worse," LeClair said.
Cruise ship companies who operate in the area have said the closure of the bridge has delayed their ability to launch ships that were on the wrong side of the bridge. The operators had proposed a plan that would involve a one-time temporary removal of a concrete section of the bridge to allow the ships to pass through.
"The time is now. We need PSPC to act," said Kingston 1000 Islands Cruise general manager Eric Ferguson. "This is a navigable waterway. They need to take action. If they determine that there is no option that they are able to take, then they need to replace lost revenues. We need to proect the jobs."
The government said Friday that it is "exploring other options to enable the resumption of pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle and marine traffic."
Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson says the bridge is a critical link for the city.
"My message to the federal government is just obviously conveying the urgency of the situation, conveying the impacts that this is having, and then ultimately just really asking for communication," he said.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Jack Richardson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Tim Meadows pledges not to shave until the Oilers win the cup, who are the team's other famous fans?
An unlikely celebrity emerged from social media to cheer on the Edmonton Oilers as they face the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Luxury beauty brand Clarins to pull out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada
French luxury makeup and skincare brand Clarins is pulling out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada.
'It's over': Minister says B.C.'s decision on Surrey police transition upheld in court
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled in the provincial government's favour on the City of Surrey's legal challenge to its ongoing transition to a municipal police force, according to B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.