Mayor Bryan Paterson, MP Mark Gerretsen, MPP Ian Arthur and Councillor Ryan Boheme welcomed guests and other staff this morning as a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on the western shore of what will become the new bridge over the Cataraqui River.
Approved by council in 2017 and with its finding confirmed in 2018, the project only just received its approval from Parks Canada on the detailed impact assessment earlier this month, green-lighting construction. Contractors have been on the site since the summer. Buoys holding up a mesh curtain along the length future bridge to mitigate impact to the surrounding environment during construction have also been floating for several months.
Today’s ceremony marks the formal commencement of construction on the shores and enables the contractors from Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Hatch Ltd., and SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies to really begin laying foundation for the new road.
Kingston’s new bridge is expected to open in late 2022.
MP Mark Gerretsen, Mayor Bryan Paterson, MPP Ernie Hardeman, MPP Ian Arthur, Councillor Ryan Boehme, Lanie Hurdle, CAO of the City of Kingston, Jim Keech, CAO of Utilities Kingston, and Dan Franco, project engineer, stand in front of the western shore of the ‘Third Crossing’ project on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Photo by Josie Vallier MP Mark Gerretsen, MPP Ernie Hardeman, MPP Ian Arthur and Mayor Bryan Paterson chat at the construction site. Photo by Josie Vallier MPP Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, operates the excavator as part of the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by Josie Vallier Mayor Bryan Paterson swings the excavator to move some of the dirt at the construction site. Photo by Josie Vallier.MPP Ian Arthur takes a turn at breaking some ground at the ‘Third Crossing’ groundbreaking. Photo by Josie Vallier.MP Mark Gerretsen looks out at a full excavator load of dirt he’s moved as part of the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by Josie Vallier.Councillor Ryan Boehme takes a turn at breaking ground at the shores of what will be the new bridge across the Cataraqui River. Photo by Josie Vallier.Markers along the future bridge route hold up a mesh to minimize impact to the surrounding environment during construction. Photo by Josie Vallier.
