[rocketphish]

I realize that the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge project has been discussed at length in other threads, but given that it is just about a reality, I thought it deserved it's own thread.

Here's the City's homepage on this project:
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/major_projects/strandherd_bridge/index_en.html

Location:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3677881315_707f749150_o_d.jpg


Plan view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3566/3678696402_18b49e5c63_o_d.jpg


Side view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3678696612_e0709c2e0a_b_d.jpg


Cross section:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/3677881515_19d74849e0_o_d.jpg


Rendering:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3678696674_8a3bbe8956_o_d.jpg

[rocketphish]

Strandherd Bridge gets another go-ahead

The Ottawa Citizen, June 30, 2009


OTTAWA - The National Capital Commission approved the design and proposed corridor for the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge across the Rideau River on Tuesday.

The eight-lane bridge, with a traditional above-deck arch design, will be constructed beginning next year and be open by 2012. Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches said the only remaining approvals need to come from Transport Canada and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

The total project is worth $105 million, including construction of roads to the bridge. The bridge itself will cost $48 million.

Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre showed up at the NCC board meeting Tuesday to witness the approval. Poilievre called the bridge "a handsome piece of infrastructure."

The bridge will link Riverside South with Barrhaven.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen


http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Strandherd+Bridge+gets+another+ahead/1747620/story.html
(http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Strandherd+Bridge+gets+another+ahead/1747620/story.html)

[Rathgrith]

Finally!

Although cyclists should have their own dedicated lane/ROW separated by a median.

[Kitchissippi]

The Ottawa Citizen, June 30, 2009
Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre showed up at the NCC board meeting Tuesday to witness the approval. Poilievre called the bridge "a handsome piece of infrastructure."

I think his actual words were "we'll be layin' down some tar, baby" :haha:

[Rathgrith]

I think his actual words were "we'll be layin' down some tar, baby" :haha:

I believe that is one of only a few phrases he knows, along with "Fuck the Indians".

[reidjr]

When is this scheduled to be built and opn.

[waterloowarrior]

"The eight-lane bridge, with a traditional above-deck arch design, will be constructed beginning next year and be open by 2012. Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches said the only remaining approvals need to come from Transport Canada and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority"

[reidjr]

That is one nice looking bridge.

[lrt's friend]

I do hope those transit lanes are convertible to LRT. I fear they won't be.

[waterloowarrior]

RFQ for Construction has gone out!
http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIER_Menu.asp?WCE=Show&TAB=1&PORTAL=MERX&State=7&searchtype=remotesearch&id=187988&src=osr&FED_ONLY=0&ACTION=&rowcount=&lastpage=&hcode=hOPSD0Lhp13g556280wu1A%3d%3d

[waterloowarrior]

South Ottawa bridge on track, authorities promise


THE OTTAWA CITIZENJANUARY 20, 2010 1:09 PM


OTTAWA — The Strandherd-Armstrong bridge is on budget and on schedule, city and federal authorities said at a Wednesday news conference.

At Moncion’s Your Independent Grocer, City of Ottawa engineers explained that construction of the $48-million bridge should start in May 2010 and be completed by 2012.

Another part of the project, the widening of Earl Armstrong Road to four lanes, is also on schedule — construction started in September 2009 and should be completed by March 2011.

Councillor Steve Desroches said the purpose of Wednesday’s conference was to keep federal and provincial partners and local businesses up to speed on the development of the project.

He also said he was very pleased with the progress being made on the project, which is moving forward at an accelerated pace.

The eight-lane bridge, which is to span 125 metres across the Rideau River, will connect River Road on the east bank with Prince of Wales Drive on the west bank.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

[Kitchissippi]

The proposed transit/LRT ROW in Barrhaven is entirely on the south side of Strandherd — how exactly is LRT/BRT supposed to go from the outside lanes of this bridge and switch to the eventual dedicated ROWs on either end?

[waterloowarrior]

The proposed transit/LRT ROW in Barrhaven is entirely on the south side of Strandherd — how exactly is LRT/BRT supposed to go from the outside lanes of this bridge and switch to the eventual dedicated ROWs on either end?

For now Strandherd is going to have bus lanes on the right hand side. IIRC With the NS LRT they were going to build a separate transit bridge once traffic demand warranted widening the S-A bridge..
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/strandherd/db_4_en.html

[Kitchissippi]

I guess what I was wondering about was due to the fact that the bridge has a middle arch, which limits the redistribution of lanes on the bridge. Putting LRT on the south side of the bridge would make the vehicle lanes imbalanced. Are they thinking of eventually putting 4/5 car lanes on the north side and leaving the south side for trains, buses and bikes?

[lrt's friend]

I guess what I was wondering about was due to the fact that the bridge has a middle arch, which limits the redistribution of lanes on the bridge. Putting LRT on the south side of the bridge would make the vehicle lanes imbalanced. Are they thinking of eventually putting 4/5 car lanes on the north side and leaving the south side for trains, buses and bikes?

Do you really think they have thought of such things? I suspect we will never see LRT crossing this bridge or an adjacent bridge in any of our lifetimes.

[Richard Eade]

Do you really think they have thought of such things? I suspect we will never see LRT crossing this bridge or an adjacent bridge in any of our lifetimes.
The number I heard was "within 20 years" there would need to be a dedicated transit bridge to the south (about 50 m) of the S-A Bridge. I believe that Urbandale has been fighting the need to allow for a transit RoW for a new bridge, though, because it means that the sewers can't simply head north. (The new transit RoW would involve underpasses, or be trenched.)

[waterloowarrior]

Council approves city's share for bridge cost
Posted Jan 29, 2010
BY EMC NEWS
http://www.emcbarrhaven.ca/20100129/news/Council+approves+city's+share+for+bridge+cost



Councillors Steve Desroches and Jan Harder have announced that council has approved the city’s one-third share of the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge.
The city is completing the design of the bridge and is planning to begin the tender process, with construction scheduled to begin in the spring of 2010.
“This is an important milestone and this project has come a long way out of the ashes following the short-sighted LRT cancellation,” stated Coun Desroches in a press release.
Both the federal and provincial governments have committed to fund two-thirds of the project. The National Capital Commission has also approved the bridge design.
“I am proud of the benefits this bridge will bring to Barrhaven including the long awaited South District Ottawa Police station. We have truly been waiting a very long time,” Coun. Harder said in a release.

[waterloowarrior]

from Councillor Desroches

Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge has gone to tender

I am pleased to announce that the City of Ottawa has finalized the design and engineering plans for the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and the construction tendering process has been initialized. The project tenders have been submitted to the five contractors that were pre-qualified for this project. This past weekend I met with Councillor Jan Harder, MP Pierre Poilievre and MPP Yasir Naqvi at the site of the future bridge to unveil the new sign for the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge, which now includes the federal and provincial logos, illustrating the cooperation between all three levels of government on this important infrastructure project.

[cityguy]

Construction was to have to have started in May,and word yet?

[lrt's friend]

I just drove by there on Sunday. There is a lot of activity but it appears to be relating to the completion of Strandherd westward from Prince of Wales. I didn't see anything happening relating to the bridge itself or approaches to the bridge.

[waterloowarrior]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Strandherd+bridge+building+begin+next+month/3034518/story.html

Strandherd bridge building to begin next month


BY MEGHAN HURLEY, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN MAY 16, 2010


Work on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge across the Rideau River is set to begin in June, Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre said Saturday.

Poilievre, who hosted a public information session in Manotick Saturday, said construction of the eight-lane bridge should begin in June after the city awards a construction contract.

"It's going to be a magnificent project," Poilievre said. "It will connect Barrhaven and Riverside South and will take a lot of traffic out of Manotick."

[blackjagger]

I just drove by there on Sunday. There is a lot of activity but it appears to be relating to the completion of Strandherd westward from Prince of Wales. I didn't see anything happening relating to the bridge itself or approaches to the bridge.

All the work that is being done right now is widening Prince of Wales from Woodroffe to the new Standherd extention to four lanes and adding in a traffic light or two.

[waterloowarrior]

Strandherd-Armstrong bridge contract settled
http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/828105--strandherd-armstrong-bridge-contract-settled
Completion planned for 2012

SOUTH OTTAWA - The contract for the construction of the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge has been awarded to ConCreate USL Limited of Bolton, Ont., and the order to start construction has been issued. The construction of the bridge is to be completed by 2012.

Project funding was approved in the City of Ottawa’s 2010 capital budget. The federal and provincial governments are each funding a third of the project under the Building Canada Fund as announced in June 2009.

Work continues on the multimillion-dollar projects to widen Earl Armstrong Road (on the east of the Rideau River) to connect with the bridge and the extension of Strandherd Drive on the west.

The bridge will also expected to improve the city’s cycling network, help improve emergency services, enhance economic development opportunities for south Ottawa, and provide wider access to parks and recreational facilities.

ConCreate has previously worked on important infrastructure projects in the Ottawa area including the rehabilitation of the Plaza Bridge and the Hunt Club Bridge.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority issued a permit for the construction of the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge on May 4.

[waterloowarrior]

work is underway!
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/07/07/14640191.html

[Richard Eade]

Strandherd-Armstrong bridge contract settled
http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/828105--strandherd-armstrong-bridge-contract-settled
Completion planned for 2012

SOUTH OTTAWA - The contract for the construction of the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge has been awarded to ConCreate USL Limited of Bolton, Ont., and the order to start construction has been issued. The construction of the bridge is to be completed by 2012.....

work is underway!
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/07/07/14640191.html
So I'm a bit confused about the contract. From the "Your Ottawa Region", I see than ConCreate USL was awarded the contract; and from the "Ottawa Sun" article, I readWork has begun on the long-awaited Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge with Ottawa-based Delcan Corporation contracted to head the construction....“We are delighted to have received this contract award from the City of Ottawa,” said Delcan vice-president Vic Anderson. “We previously completed the design of the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and are pleased that The City of Ottawa has awarded us the construction contract as well.”

So is Delcan sub-contracted by ConCreate USL? Or has the City changed the award?

[waterloowarrior]

found this press release

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Delcan Corporation Wins Construction Services Contract for the Strandherd-
Armstrong Bridge in Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario, July 7, 2010 – Delcan Corporation, an award winning, multidisciplinary
engineering, planning, management and technology consulting firm, is
pleased to announce their most recent project win with the City of Ottawa for the
construction of the new Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge.
Delcan has been contracted by the City of Ottawa as the lead consultant for
providing construction services on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge that involves
comprehensive engineering and on-site inspection services. The design of this new
signature multi-arch bridge over the Rideau River (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
was recently completed by Delcan and now Delcan will proceed with construction.
This project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2012.
In acknowledgement of this new project win, Mr. Vic Anderson, Executive Vice
President of Delcan’s Structures Division commented, “We are delighted to have
received this contract award from the City of Ottawa. We previously completed the
design of the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and are pleased that The City of Ottawa
has awarded us the construction contract as well.”
http://www.delcan.com/pdfs/Strandherd-Armstrong%20Bridge%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf

[sgera]

i drove by it on the canada day long weekend and the trees have been cleared and clearly they are prepping the site for bridge construction....the path across the river is clearly visible now....prince of whales widening in the bridge vicinity is well underway too.

[IntoTheCore]

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/07/21/14784201.html


Hi-tech bridge project underway
By JON WILLING, Ottawa Sun

It’s not often in Ottawa that bridge construction draws a crowd, but the city is already predicting a spectacle when a new overpass slides into place across the Rideau River.

The $50-million Strandherd-Armstrong bridge, which will span the river at Earl Armstrong Rd., has a completion date of early 2012 and work has already started. The city recently awarded the building contract to ConCreate USL, headquartered in Bolton, Ont.

It will be the first bridge built across the Rideau River in Ottawa since the Hunt Club Rd. bridge was constructed in 1986.

In the case of the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge, construction won’t happen across the river. Instead, workers will built the bridge at a staging area and use a track system to slide it into place between River Rd. and Prince of Wales Dr.

The bridge will be constructed on tracks on the east side. At the same time workers are assembling the bridge, others will build a trestle system across the river so they can eventually push the bridge into place.

“This is going to be an impressive engineering feat,” Gloucester-South Nepean Steve Desroches said.

Desroches, who represents the area, said he has been receiving calls from residents already wanting information on where they can watch the bridge being built. The calls have prompted City Hall to start thinking about how they can accommodate spectators when the bridge is slid into place.

That could happen in fall 2011, but there are no time restrictions.

The last time a bridge commanded an audience in Ottawa was in 2007 when the province replaced the Island Park Dr. bridge at Hwy. 417. The replacement happened overnight after workers built the bridge in a staging area.

Hundreds of people filled bleacher seating to watch the climactic moment of the bridge construction.

Rolling the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge across the river could bring back that excitement.

“I expect there will be the same level of interest,” Desroches said.

There are several advantages to building the bridge on land rather than over the river.

Marcel Delph, the city’s manager of the project, said environmental impacts are minimized and worker safety is enhanced.

“We will be casting the concrete deck in the bridge’s final location because it weighs more and jacking the steel superstructure would be very heavy,” Delph said.

The bridge will weigh about 8,000 metric tonnes when it’s slid into place.

Delph said this construction plan is unique for such a large bridge.


Before the Hunt Club bridge was built in 1986, did people have to go north to Billings Bridge to cross the Rideau?

[Acajack]

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/07/21/14784201.html



Before the Hunt Club bridge was built in 1986, did people have to go north to Billings Bridge to cross the Rideau?

No, you could cross at Heron, Hog's Back and Bronson to the north of Hunt Club, and you could cross at Manotick to the south.

[IntoTheCore]

No, you could cross at Heron, Hog's Back and Bronson to the north of Hunt Club, and you could cross at Manotick to the south.

Right! Clearly, I hadn't yet had my morning cup of coffee before I wrote that. :koko:

[waterloowarrior]

Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge construction update
Wednesday, 04 August 2010
Councillor Desroches would like to provide the community with the following update received from the Project Manager of the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge construction project:

"Within the next week or so bridge foundation installation at the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge site will commence on the east side of the river. These operations will include vibrating 1.8 m diameter steel tubes (caissons) through the soil to bedrock. Once the caissons have reached bedrock, they will be cleaned out of native soil and filled with concrete. The operation is expected to last approximately 2-3 months on the east side of the river and, when complete, a similar operation will take place on the west side of the river.

Given the soil type at the site we do not expect that vibrations will exceed tolerable levels or cause damage to nearby building foundations. However, the vibrating in and cleaning of the caissons will increase background sound levels in the area."

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 August 2010 )

[waterloowarrior]

several photos by southfacing (flickr) taken 18 Aug 2010

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4907010804_4a8430abdf_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/4907010804/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4905834975_6a714807b5_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/4905834975/


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4908095783_d31ef277ee_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/4908095783/

[Cre47]

You can follow the construction at http://sabridge.net/ There is a camera on each side of the site

[Cre47]

Note that the project should be marked as under construction.

Meanwhile, the Barrhaven/Ottawa South this week community paper has a series of reports on the bridge and its impact. The first article was in last's week edition.

There is also a photo of the construction site and its progression in today's paper (page 12)
http://www.runge.net/TempDownload/DownloadFiles/1301668773/botw-110331.pdf

[Luker]

Note that the project should be marked as under construction.

Meanwhile, the Barrhaven/Ottawa South this week community paper has a series of reports on the bridge and its impact. The first article was in last's week edition.

There is also a photo of the construction site and its progression in today's paper (page 12)
http://www.runge.net/TempDownload/DownloadFiles/1301668773/botw-110331.pdf

That paper also mentions our freinds from Saade International were involved in some unfortunate incident: "Police Services said the man was arrested
at the scene after the body of 23-yearold Jessica Riopelle was discovered at
the Saade International Inn at the corner of Bank Street and Rideau Road around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Reports suggest Riopelle worked at the Diamonds Cabaret gentlemen club next door,"

[Richard Eade]

Things are progressing on the S-A Bridge structure.

http://REade.fileave.com/S-A_Bridge/SA-Bridge---01---2011-Apr-2.jpg
East abutment - April 27, 2011

http://REade.fileave.com/S-A_Bridge/SA-Bridge---02---2011-Apr-2.jpg
Looking across the river to the (soon to be) west abutment - April 27, 2011

[waterloowarrior]

cool video found at http://www.riversidesouth.org/forums/index.php?topic=2586.0

MildyeqsfKg

[Cre47]

Might be the most recent image of the bridge from a EMC article in late-August. You can see the Strandherd Drive section completed (well at least pavement). Though I've probably heard that the section of Strandherd is now open to traffic.

[DarkArconio]

I was driving down prince of wales at the end of the summer and I can confirm strandherd to completed to the river.

[rocketphish]

The latest from southfacing (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/)

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6237/6370759335_e4b02b5f90_b.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6928885259_803fff4c33_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6928885289_fe6e27ef29_o.jpg

[Richard Eade]

Woo-Hoo. I see they are starting to assemble the arches. In a short while, we should have a complete north half of the bridge.

[osirisboy]

where are the mods?? someone change this to u/c

[S-Man]

Weird way of contructing and installing a bridge. I heard it's the 1st time such a things has been attempted in either Ontario or even Canada.

Man, the river is really narrow at that point.

[red-paladin]

where are the mods?? someone change this to u/c

It's out of my jurisdiction, but hopefully no one minds if I change it to U/C.

Although I like cable stayed bridges, it's refreshing to see something different in a new Canadian Bridge. :tup:

[waterloowarrior]

NR: Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge Project Update
Ottawa – Today the City of Ottawa declared the general contractor on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge to be in default.

This decision follows discussions with the contactor’s court appointed receiver and the City’s bonding company and is being pursued as the best course of action to ensure the project continues to move forward and is completed as quickly as possible.

Work on the bridge is approximately 60% complete and measures remain in place to ensure its completion.

It is important to recognize that situations such as this create schedule setbacks and will impact construction. However, the action taken by the City today is geared to limit any project delays and will allow the bonding company to assume responsibility for the delivery of the project regardless of what happens with the contractor as a result of it being placed into receivership.

The City requires performance bonds on all major construction projects to guarantee project completion and minimize financial exposure to taxpayers. Declaring the general contractor to be in default and activating the $23 million performance bond will assist the City in its ability to ensure the timely completion of the project as well as the quality and safety of the bridge.

[waterloowarrior]

18 March 2012 by southfacing @ flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/6848958042_21a5ce6ae4_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/6848958042/sizes/l/in/photostream/

several more pictures here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/sets/72157629615581711/with/6848955156/

[lrt's friend]

Am I the only one who is getting nervous when I read that many of the subcontractors have not been paid for work done to date and they will not resume work until they are paid? Will the performance bond be enough to complete the bridge? Where did all the money go to build this bridge if the subcontractors have not been paid? To pay for debts for a company that was already in financial trouble? Is there a mechanism to make sure that bidders are financially capable to complete the project before their bid is accepted?

[lrt's friend]

18 March 2012 by southfacing @ flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/6848958042_21a5ce6ae4_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/6848958042/sizes/l/in/photostream/

several more pictures here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/sets/72157629615581711/with/6848955156/

this picture would have been even better if we could see them laying tracks for LRT. Look at that picture. Nobody lives there. Just empty fields.

[Kitchissippi]

Paddled through the construction site, not much happening. Looks like the aftermath of a giant Angry Birds game :D

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7600824378_9e8508eee9_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7600822558_13f1de0e7f_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7600826140_3b4573b770_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8145/7600835726_41aa24bd23_c.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

29 sept 2012 by southfacing @ flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/8037598070/in/photostream

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/8037598070_d84144e2f1_c.jpg

[Richard Eade]

OK, so here is a question:

With all of the temporary piers built and piles driven into the riverbed, and all of the temporary heavy steel rail construction to support the moving bridge structure, would it not have been faster, easier, and cheaper to simply build the bridge in place rather than building it on shore and then ‘sliding’ it into place? There appears to be a huge amount of ‘throw-away’ work being done here.

[S-Man]

Maybe. Who knows? I ain't a bridge expert.

Good question, though.

[Harley613]

any civil engineers in this forum? it's a good question!

[Kitchissippi]

My guess is that it has something to do with not affecting canal navigation as much as possible, similar to the reasons the Carling area bridge replacement scheme on the Queensway disrupted traffic only for a weekend.

[eltodesukane]

Anything new? When will this bridge open to traffic?

[McKellarDweller]

I've been along Earl Armstrong westbound at Prince of Wales a few times. The lanes of the intersection (just done in the last couple of years) don't line up with the bridge at all. Awkward Suburban blight.

[bradnixon]

I've been along Earl Armstrong westbound at Prince of Wales a few times. The lanes of the intersection (just done in the last couple of years) don't line up with the bridge at all. Awkward Suburban blight.

The bridge is not in its final location. It's being built on shore and will be rolled out over the river on a temporary trellis system. Once that's done the approach roads will be finished.

[waterloowarrior]

progress update
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/index.php/bridge/item/839-strandherd-armstrong-bridge-construction-continues

[rocketphish]

progress update
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/index.php/bridge/item/839-strandherd-armstrong-bridge-construction-continues

A selection of photos from the report:

March 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/c86ae9bf9d69e790910600aa8bced4fe_L.jpg

July 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/cdb07fe52edfc220cecf3f84017ef78e_L.jpg

August 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/6f393c73a9c9a064c4c50137fe9679b4_L.jpg

September 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/11ff87b754b564cf2c60e2628d5ec100_L.jpg

November 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/2d9c6ec24bc1fb99260bf12d63333c7c_L.jpg

December 2012:
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/f56335a10d7a21c1fd477cd23e9edb72_L.jpg
http://www.stevedesroches.ca/media/k2/items/cache/b0776ea0ff3c7ec4ba82e898c021ccc5_L.jpg

[lrt's friend]

Were any of these pictures actually taken after the work resumed?

[rocketphish]

Were any of these pictures actually taken after the work resumed?

Yes, I'd say so. And I updated the image posting above to add the dates of the photos.

[rocketphish]

And now it may have stopped again...


More questions surface over bridge work

Published on February 12, 2013
Courtney Symons

Strandherd-Armstrong contractors still engaged in legal fights. Several subcontractors say more problems are emerging in a $48-million bridge construction project already marred by controversy and delays.

Sources say work on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge, which will connect the communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South, ground to a halt late last month and that several steelworkers were laid off. Others say the cold weather has created challenges with the bridge’s welding and threatens to place the project even further behind schedule.

Ironworkers Local 765, the Ottawa branch of a metal workers union represented by Don Melvin, has about 20 to 25 employees working on the job. Many non-union workers at the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge were laid off in late January, Mr. Melvin said.

“There’s some stuff going on down there,” he said. When asked to elaborate, he declined and ended the interview.

Patrick Rochette, superintendent of bridge erector Montacier International Inc., told OBJ he couldn’t comment on the project but said construction had halted when he spoke to OBJ late last month.

“From my perspective, we’re pretty much at a standstill,” he said in an interview.

On Feb. 6, however, workers could be seen at the bridge’s construction site.

Separately, a former Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge contractor with ties to workers still on the job site said he’s heard reports of problems with the welding, requiring significant portions to be redone.

“Anyone familiar with the code would know that it’s virtually impossible to do (welding) outside in the wintertime,” said DCM Erectors general superintendent Gary Counsell. “You need to have no wind and no cold.”

To keep out the elements, much of the welding is being done beneath tarps elevated next to the bridge’s framework.

The claims could not be verified because industry and municipal officials refused to speak to OBJ about the project.

TROUBLED WATERS

The contract to construct the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge was awarded to ConCreate USL in July 2010. At the time, officials said work would be completed by spring 2012.

Last March, ConCreate entered receivership, leading to a flurry of liens and lawsuits among a handful of subcontractors.

Work resumed under a new contractor, Horseshoe Hill Construction. That company appears to be headed by former ConCreate employees, a practice a local construction industry representative previously called “concerning” and “not good” for the industry.

DCM Erectors is one subcontractor caught up in the mess. It was hired by ConCreate to erect the bridge, but was replaced by Quebec-based Montacier after Horseshoe Hill took over the job.

Mr. Counsell is still waiting for the outcome of his legal proceedings against the city, which he alleges confiscated some of his equipment used on the project. His construction lien against Horseshoe Hill also has yet to be resolved.

QUIET CROSSING

OBJ made multiple requests to several Horseshoe Hill officials to discuss the company’s corporate structure. All were turned down.

City councillor Steve Desroches, a vocal proponent of the bridge who maintains a section on his website to provide updates on the project, did not respond to several interview requests.

Similarly, city officials did not respond to specific questions about faulty welding or work stoppages. Instead, the city’s media relations department provided a one-paragraph statement that said the bridge would be “substantially completed” by Aug. 31, and that further updates would be provided in the coming weeks.

“Construction on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge is progressing and all safety specifications are being met, including with respect to the welding. The financing of the project is stable and this project has a performance bond to guarantee project completion and to protect taxpayers from financial exposure to cost overruns,” the statement said.

SIDEBAR: BRIDGE BACKGROUND

The Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge will link the communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South across the Rideau River.

The completed bridge will span 143 metres and accommodate eight traffic lanes, two bike paths and two pedestrian sidewalks.

from: http://www.obj.ca/Real%20Estate/Construction/2013-02-12/article-3175262/More-questions-surface-over-bridge-work/1

[rocketphish]

Councillor confirms Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge welding issues

Mark Brownlee, March 22, 2013

Welding problems on a major bridge under construction in south Ottawa have city officials revisiting the expected completion date for the project, which is already more than a year behind schedule, the area councillor said Friday.

Steve Desroches, who represents Gloucester South-Nepean, declined to say directly whether the completion of the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge - originally scheduled to be completed by spring 2012 - will be delayed. However he said "likely it is not a matter of weeks" when discussing the revised schedule for the project.

City engineers are currently working with the project’s contractor, Horseshoe Hill, to look at the project’s timelines. Mr. Desroches said he will have a more "fulsome" update sometime in April.

As OBJ first reported in early February, the cold winter weather created problems with the welding during the past few months.

The $48-million project, which is designed to link the communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South, is supposed to be finished in August of this year but has already been delayed several times.

Mr. Desroches did not go into too many details about what was wrong with the welding, other than to say it is "very complex" and he did not want there to be any safety issues when the bridge opens.

"I would like to see this project completed as quickly as possible to the highest safety standards," said Mr. Desroches. "No one wants to compromise the safety for the sake of a ribbon cutting."

Workers on the project told OBJ in late January that construction on the project had ground to a halt.

Mr. Desroches denied this claim. Construction never stopped during the winter months, he said.

The project was originally supposed to be completed in spring 2012. That was delayed when the firm that won the contract, ConCreate USL, entered receivership last March.

from: http://www.obj.ca/Real%20Estate/Construction/2013-03-22/article-3205927/Councillor-confirms-StrandherdArmstrong-Bridge-welding-issues/1

[rocketphish]

$48M Strandherd-Armstrong bridge likely to be delayed ‘months’, says councillor

By Neco Cockburn, Ottawa Citizen March 22, 2013

OTTAWA - The Strandherd-Armstrong bridge project likely faces a delay of months after welding did not meet city specifications, says a city official.

The $48-million project was expected to be finished by Aug. 31, but Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches indicated last month that timelines were being assessed after testing determined that additional welding work was required.

On Friday, Desroches said a new completion date still hadn’t been determined, but "I do believe that we will be looking at a delay.

"I don’t think it will be weeks. It will likely be months, and this is what’s being confirmed at the present time," he said.

The bridge over the Rideau River between Strandherd Drive and Earl Armstrong Road was supposed to be finished by late last year, but work stalled last March when the original contractor went into receivership. The new deadline at the end of August was set when the project resumed.

Staff are now seeing if time can be made up in other parts of the project, and construction work continues, said Desroches. A full update is expected in mid-April, he said.

"We don’t want to compromise the safety for the sake of a ribbon-cutting. I hope to have more information in the coming weeks with more clarity on the deadline, but clearly the welding is taking some considerable time," said Desroches.

"There are very high standards that have to be met because of the weight, and I think as someone whose family is going to travel on this bridge, I want to ensure that the bridge is safe."

Desroches said in February that some of the welding on the bridge’s arches didn’t meet city specifications.

"It is a complex welding process," he said on Friday, with "very sophisticated testing that is part of the quality control."

Each of the three bridge arches is composed of 10 pieces that must be welded together, according to information posted to the councillor’s website.

The bridge was originally expected to open to traffic in early 2012. That timeline was stretched before contractor ConCreate USL of Bolton, Ont., went into receivership in March.

The city held a $23-million performance bond on the project, and its bonding company - The Guarantee Company of North America - chose Horseshoe Hill Construction, composed of employees of ConCreate USL, as the builder to complete the project.

There’s a $5,000-a-day penalty if the project isn’t completed by the end of August, Desroches said, and "this would fall under the responsibility of the bonding company."

Welding is being completed by a subcontractor, Montacier, according to Desroches. Staff at that company and at Horseshoe Hill referred questions to the city.

Desroches said in mid-February that more than 70 per cent of the project had been completed.

"I’m disappointed that the welding is taking some considerable time, but we are putting tremendous pressure on the contractor and on the bonding company," he said on Friday.

City engineers have told him that the welding that needs additional work is "not a question of poor workmanship," Desroches said.

"The welding testing is very sophisticated and very sensitive, and it is a normal part of the process that you test your welds and do additional welding based on the tests that come in," he said.


© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Strandherd+Armstrong+bridge+likely+delayed+months+says+councillor/8140705/story.html#ixzz2OPd7Wfav

[waterloowarrior]

NR: Update on the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge project
http://ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/pressco.pl?&Elist=18382&lang=en

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa has received an updated completion date for the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge project, submitted by the bonding company, The Guarantee Company of North America, which delays the delivery date of completion to September 2014.

There are several issues which have contributed to the delay in the construction work. These issues include the delayed delivery of the arches and the complex nature of the welding work and preparatory work for the Rideau River launch of the bridge. Collectively these factors have resulted in a setback in the construction schedule.

“I am disappointed by the news that further delays are impacting the completion date for the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge and the inconvenience this is causing to the residents of Ottawa,” said Gloucester South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches. “This bridge will bring countless benefits to the residents in my community once complete.”

Work on the bridge is over 70% complete and measures remain in place to ensure its completion. The major portion of the welding work is now complete and the next major construction milestone will be to launch the bridge across the Rideau River this summer. Following this launch, the concrete for the bridge deck will be poured in spring 2014 with the final works to follow. The bridge is now scheduled to be open to traffic in September 2014.

The safety of the City’s infrastructure is a top priority and the City is diligently overseeing this project. A performance bond is in place which ensures that this bridge will be delivered at no additional cost to Ottawa taxpayers because of the delay. The contractor will be charged liquidated damages effective September 1, 2013, the original contractual date of completion.