The repair work is on-going on the Kent Bridge, over the Thames River.
Chatham-Kent officials say to date, asphalt has been milled off of the structure, Kent Bridge Road and a portion of Longwoods Road.
“Base asphalt has been placed on Longwoods Road so that it is still accessible to the public,” officials with the engineering department stated in a press release.
“The waterproofing, protection board and expansion joint sealant will be installed on the bridge Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Final asphalt paving is expected to commence this Friday October 7, 2016. These timelines are heavily dependent on weather conditions as a clean, dry deck is required to apply waterproofing as well as asphalt paving.”
Municipal officials say a further update confirming the opening timing will be issued on Thursday.
The work stems from an incident on September 15 when a transport truck travelling over the bridge located on Kent Bridge Road near Longwoods Road experienced a drive shaft failure, which in turn punctured the fuel tank spilling several hundred litres of diesel fuel.
The spill covered the north bound lane of the bridge and portions of nearby Longwoods Road.
To ensure the safety of all concerned, the bridge was immediately closed.
“The reinstatement of the bridge has been a top priority for Chatham-Kent engineering staff, as the need to have the bridge repaired promptly, especially during the harvest season, is of the utmost importance,” Municipal officials stated.
The Sherman Brown Bridge (Communication Road/Hwy 40) is the nearest available bridge for the public to cross over the river.
Thamesville Bridge (Victoria Road/Hwy 21) is also available but currently has a load posting of 20/35/48 tonnes.
