Construction of the new fire hall in Gander will have to find ways to gain momentum after damp weather has put the project two weeks behind schedule.
“The weather slowed it down a fair bit,” said James Blackwood, director of municipal work for the Town.
Grading issues were encountered, with more fill becoming necessary as wet weather caused delays through the spring, he said, adding construction slowed down throughout town as a result.
The $5-million fire hall must be completed by March 31, 2011 in order receive one-third of its funding – $1.67 million – from the federal government’s stimulus fund.
“We’re pressing for that,” said Mr. Blackwood.
Max Pike, site superintendent for the project’s main contractor, Redwood Construction Ltd., said co-ordination will be essential to making sure the fire hall is completed on time – something he thinks will not be a problem.
“I think co-ordination is what puts us back on track.”
Rather than increasing manpower now, he said it’s more important to ensure personnel for one job are ready to commence their work as soon as another group is finished their work.
“There’s not much point in me having plumbers on site with me running equipment where they work with the pipes – one is going to bite the other,” said Mr. Pike, offering an example. “Once I get far enough ahead and can get the guys out of there, then I can put the plumbers in.”
I think co-ordination is what puts us back on track.” - Max Pike
The project schedule will be adjusted as work moves along to make up for lost time, said Mr. Pike, who added some work will be carried out on weekends.
“They’ll do a specific job so we’re ready for Monday morning.”
Once work is above the ground, Mr. Pike said weather becomes less of a worry when it comes to creating potential delays.
Currently, he said workers are focusing their efforts on exterior walls. Steel has been erected, and brick work continues.
Shop drawings for the structure’s roof trusses were also recently approved, and should be available by the end of the month. The roof will tentatively be finished in five-to-six weeks, he said.
“Weather means nothing to us then, anyway, because we’re inside. By the middle of August, you’ll really see something moving.”
Redwood Construction recently completed work for the Cupids Museum that was completed five weeks early.
The new fire hall will be a 24-by-40 metre building located on the corner of Raynham Avenue and Cooper Boulevard.
Engineering for the fire hall was done by AE Consultants. Redwood Construction Ltd. subcontracted portions of fire hall construction to Central Tile Masonry, Cecon, and Riverside Excavating Ltd.
info@ganderbeacon.ca
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