Motorists will start to feel the impact of Johnson Street Bridge replacement over the next couple of months.
The first real signs of construction of the new bridge will be seen in June when two temporary trestles are built on both sides to support cranes and equipment to build the bridge.
Until then, there will be a steady buildup of activity, said city spokeswoman Katie Josephson.
“You’ll just start to see … each day more and more activity. Within about three or four weeks, it will look like an active construction site,” Josephson said
And while the old bridge will remain open during construction of the new one, expect some traffic delays.
From July through to October, city crews will also begin work replacing 100-year-old water and sanitary sewer pipes along Store and Wharf streets and Esquimalt/Harbour roads in advance of new road approaches that will be built for the bridge, Josephson said.
Work on the west side is scheduled to start in July, with the majority of the downtown work starting later.
However, there will be some digging starting in July on the downtown side to confirm things such as utility location depths, Josephson said.
“It will likely start on the west side [of the bridge] in July. But generally speaking, it will be happening at the same time [on both sides]. It’s not doing one side then the other.”
That work won’t mean road closures, but it will involve lane closures.
“They’re very cognizant of timing with tourist season and pedestrians … down in the area [of the bridge], especially on the east side because it is July through October.
“So they’re phasing it block by block to try to minimize the impact to the public,” Josephson said.
The construction schedule calls for cranes and equipment to arrive at the bridge site later this month.
“They’ll start to clear and grade within the construction area on both sides … mostly starting in June,” she said.
During June and August, two temporary trestles — used to support the cranes and equipment — will be built in THE water.
In July, pilings will be sunk where the new bridge piers are to be built.
Construction of the new bridge immediately north of the existing bridge is estimated to cost $92.8 million and take 2.5 years to complete.
The existing bridge will remain open to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and marine traffic until the new bridge opens in late 2015.
