Safety concerns halt work on transit corridor

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/08/2018 (2077 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Construction on a portion of the southwest transit corridor was halted last week after Manitoba Hydro issued a stop-work order.

Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said the stop-work order was issued after the utility and representatives from the city and construction firm PCL were unable to agree on work protocols adjacent to and underneath transmission line corridors.

“Over the course of the last several weeks, there’s been a number of incidents where work that we agreed to (have) take place on the (transmission corridor) right-of-way has changed, in our opinion,” Owen said.

“Before concrete is poured, we’re saying we have these concerns on the ongoing work and where you’re stockpiling materials and where workers are parking their vehicles.”

Owen said the stop-work order was issued Aug. 8.

A civic spokeswoman said the stop-work order only applies to two of the 12 active work sites along the corridor — the Clarence and Seel park-and-ride lots.

“Delays of this nature are common on major infrastructure projects like this, and are not expected to affect the project timeline or budget,” the spokeswoman said.

Owen said Hydro had requested crews stay about six metres away from the transmission towers and their footing, “but in some instances, they’ve been excavating close to — and even exposing — the foundation of the towers,” adding the concern has been worker safety.

Owen said talks continue with civic and construction officials, adding he expects the dispute to be resolved in a matter of days.

Work will only be allowed to resume at the affected sites, Owen said, after Hydro officials have reviewed and approved current work plans.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca