Vandalism reported earlier this week to the Fifth Street Bridge in Chatham is part of what has prompted municipal officials to close it for nearly a month, beginning Monday.
The vandalism above and below the bridge was discovered on the morning of April 8, according to media release issued by the Chatham-Kent engineering department.
The electrical wires feeding street lights along the bridge deck were cut and damaged, as well as the lighting and duct work under the bridge along Simcoe Lane.
The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from Monday until May 13.
Pedestrian traffic will remain open on the side of the bridge during this time. As well, affected transit routes will be detoured.
Chris Thibert, director of engineering and transportation, said it is unfortunate this happened now because work on the bridge was getting ready to ramp up after the winter to get it finished.
“The closure really isn’t just because of the vandalism,” he said.
He added the temporary closure also addresses safety concerns for both the community and contractors on site.
“It also allows them to work more efficiently and accommodate hopefully getting the project done sooner.”
Thibert said the goal is to get the work done by early June, well ahead of the RetroFest weekend happening June 21 to June 22 in downtown Chatham.
The event is expected to attract a larger crowd than normal after being included as part of theRM Sotheby’s/RM Auto Restoration 40th anniversary celebration, he said.
“We recognized that this is their big 40th anniversary event and we want to make sure that we have this project wrapped up,” Thibert.
He said if residents see any foul play or suspicious activity around the Fifth Street Bridge, they are asked to “not engage with anything,” and immediately call Chatham-Kent police.
He said Chatham-Kent police are nearby and can react quickly.
“We have their full co-operation with this project, and they’re going to be continuing to monitor this project, going forward, very closely.”
Thibert said it is a risk for people who are going on site and causing the vandalism.
“There is a lot of unknown variables and loose objects still within the construction site, and it’s very dangerous,” he said.
The bridge reopened nearly a year ago after being shut down the previous year while undergoing a rebuild that cost more than $7 million. However, ongoing fibre internet work has kept one lane closed.
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