NORTH RIVER, N.S. — Work has resumed on sidewalk construction on Highway 311 in North River after the crew and equipment suddenly disappeared about two weeks ago.
But contrary to reports that surfaced on social media shortly after, the temporary stoppage was not related to work quality and staffing issues, said Michelle Newell, Public Works director for the Municipality of Colchester.
“They had to move their crews on to another project outside the county,” she said, of the contractor. S.W. Weeks Construction Ltd. “They had a road that they were repaving next to an elementary school so they wanted to put a rush on and get that done before we got too far into the school year. So, we okayed for them to hop off-site for a bit.”
Newell said she had also seen the social media comments.
“I saw a bunch of stuff on social media about the project and about why they left site and to my knowledge none of that is really true.”
She said there was “a small section of curb” that had to be removed because it was poured at the wrong location.
“But that wouldn’t bring a job to a halt. By times there are mistakes in the field and the contractor fixes them which in this case they will be doing,” she said. “That wasn’t the reason why they pulled off-site. It just kind of happens from time to time.”
And, otherwise, there were “no major issues” with the project, she said.
The sidewalk, which is costed at slightly more than $1 million, will run from Dickson Drive to the Big Brothers Big Sisters facility. North of Mountain Lee Road, it will run on the east side of Highway 311 and then switch over to the west side of the road south of Mountain Lee Road.
It was initially scheduled to be completed by Oct. 25 but Newell said she is not certain whether that date will be affected.
“We haven’t yet heard whether that will be delayed but we will find out in the next couple of weeks whether they will be on time,” she said. “But, usually, Weeks is pretty good to pick up the slack and keep things on track. We still have a lot of time between now and the 25th.
