Wortley's woes as construction season enters winter season
Already at their wits' end, homeowners along a stretch of Wortley Road are learning that road reconstruction will have to pause for the winter and resume next spring.
“It is frustrating,” admits homeowner Reg Watson. “Now we are into the wet weather and we’re looking at a muddy situation.”
Work to replace sewers, water mains, stormwater drains and other infrastructure began in May and was to be substantially completed by late fall.
Supply chain issues are being blamed for slowing the arrival of water mains for the project.
“With Wortley, it was definitely delays because of the water main supply issues,” explains Jennie Dann, director of Construction and Infrastructure. “That did push us back later than originally planned.”
Dann expects the water main installation should be completed this month.
Before Christmas, the contractor will winterize the road with a temporary hard surface.
Permanent sidewalks, curbs, and asphalt must wait until spring.
“There won’t be time to do the permanent concrete ones, they’ll try to put in the temporary asphalt sidewalks so there is a hard surface that can be maintained over the winter,” says Dann.
“For some people this is a safety issue,” says Betty Barrett, who lives on Wortley Road. “This is not just an inconvenience for people with disabilities, this is a barrier to their inclusion in our neighborhood.”
Barrett believes more should be done to assist neighbours who have limited mobility, visual impairment or anxiety during the extended construction period.
Dann says the delay will not impact the timeline of next year’s phase of reconstruction along Wortley Road.
Additional costs related to the delay will be covered by the project’s contingency budget.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.