Daytime lane closures on the Fifth Street Bridge will be completed on schedule by this Friday, with daytime traffic returning to normal by Saturday.
Crews have extended the schedule to allow night-time work next week to complete the final stage of the project, the City of Courtenay said Wednesday. Starting Oct. 9, crews will work on the bridge from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m.
This night work is estimated to continue until Oct. 12. Traffic will be single-lane alternating in both directions.
Derek Richmond, the City’s manager of engineering, said the impact on traffic will be minimal.
“This may cause some minor delays, but evening traffic is generally fairly light,” noted Richmond. “We don’t expect this to have any major impact on commuters.”
The work next week will be quiet and should avoid disturbing nearby residents.
Richmond noted the City and contractor’s concern for the impact this project has had on commuters.
“We understand this has been an inconvenience,” he said. “It’s a complex project, and we’re doing our best to get it done as quickly as possible, without compromising workmanship.”
While recognizing the challenges, Richmond had high praise for the way the community has responded to the project.
“Overall people have been very considerate and cooperative with other drivers and with our crews, despite the obvious difficulties this project has caused,” continued Richmond. “We’d like everyone to know how much we appreciate that.”
For more information and updates visit www.courtenay.ca or contact project engineer Ian Whitehead at 250-338-5495 or MainRoad Contracting's 24 Hour communication line at 1-877-391-7310.
— City of Courtenay