Waterfront construction continues amid winter weather

Despite the cold, wet winter weather, construction is moving ahead full force on Thunder Bay’s waterfront.

"Winter does have its own challenges," said Gary Wood, construction supervisor. "It’s starting the vehicles and arming everything up; you’ve got to be here a little bit earlier. You’re working in less than perfect daylight conditions; it gets dark earlier and you just have to walk a little safer on the slippery ground."

However, with local contractors working on Prince Arthur’s Landing Wood says they’re used to working in northern winters and have come prepared.

Crews are busy with several projects throughout the park including erecting the water garden pavilion and baggage building.

"We’re getting excited about the public art," Wood said. "The splash pad has been poured, the main foundation for that … the spirit garden is well underway and the gathering circles, the foundations are being poured for that."

The granite steps on both piers are taking shape and the rock retention wall is up.

Wood said the projects is also still on target for the March 31 deadline in order to receive stimulus funding from the provincial and federal governments. Some landscaping projects will be deferred but he said that wasn’t unexpected.
Over the winter months the majority of work will be done on the buildings.

"We’ll have them enclosed around Christmastime hopefully so the crews can start working on the interiors in warm, heated spaces," said Wood. "There will be a lot of work there to do."