Daytime lane closures on the Fifth Street Bridge will restart on Monday, Sept. 24.
To complete the project as quickly as possible, the contractor will start work each weekday at 7 a.m., one hour earlier than originally scheduled. The daytime work will be completed by 5 p.m. each day.
“Work was on hold this week while we were waiting for delivery of some crucial bridge parts,” said the City’s manager of engineering Derek Richmond. “Once crews get going on Monday, it will be full steam ahead until the project is finished on Oct. 5.”
During daytime bridge work, traffic will be single-lane westbound only, from Lewis Park toward downtown. Eastbound traffic will need to divert to the 17th Street Bridge. These lane closures will result in traffic delays. Drivers are asked to drive safely and allow extra time to complete trips.
During single-lane closures, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to cross the Fifth Street Bridge in both directions. Cyclists will need to dismount and walk across the bridge. Transit and school buses will also be able to cross in both directions.
Some evening work will also occur on the bridge, likely during the week of Oct. 1. Crews will be sealing the bridge deck, the final part of the project. During evening work, likely from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 am, traffic will be single-lane alternating in both directions.
Nearby, contractors are working on a separate storm drain project on the Old Island Highway, between the Lewis Centre and Comox Road. As much of this work as possible will be done at night. The storm drain work will be complete by Sept. 30.
“The end is in sight for this project,” noted Richmond. “These next two weeks will see a flurry of activity on the bridge.”
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