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Officials warn of delays from Fairview overpass construction – Metro US

Officials warn of delays from Fairview overpass construction

Construction on the Fairview overpass is expected to kick off on Oct. 5, which means traffic tie-ups while the necessary overhaul takes place over the next six months.

“We do expect that traffic will be delayed, however we’re trying to mitigate that by keeping (up to) three lanes open,” Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Department spokeswoman Patricia Jreige said Thursday.

Motorists still “might want to consider using alternate routes (and) driving at different times,” she said, adding it may be inconvenient but the construction on the busy stretch leading to the Bedford Highway is “a vital project to keep the overpass safe.”

The province has awarded the contract to demolish and rebuild the south side of the overpass to Dexter Construction Ltd., with a price tag of $5 million.

Annual inspections of the older part of the overpass show “significant work” is needed, the provincial government says.

Jreige added inspections also show the Fairview overpass was designed similarly to the overpass in Laval, Que., that collapsed and killed five people three years ago.

Reversing lanes won’t be used to ease traffic congestion because they “could pose a risk to workers and the drivers, if there’s confusion about which lanes are opened,” especially during the winter months, Jreige said.