By Sarah Rolles

Protected birds cause delays at St. Louis bridge construction site

Jul 25, 2012 | 7:18 AM

Construction has been delayed again for the new St. Louis Bridge, this time to protect a species of bird that was recently found nesting at the site.

In late June nine nests belonging to the Horned Grebe a protected water bird that usually nests in small ponds, marshes and shallow bays were discovered. Across western Canada, the Grebe has gone through both long-term and short-term declines, caused by factors such as breeding habitat loss, droughts, the increase of nest predators, and environmental pollution caused by events such as oil spills.

Rosann Semchuck, executive director of communications with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure said the nests were found in three different sloughs by the site. She said since the sightings contractors have been instructed to remain at least 100 metres away from those nesting areas.

“We don’t expect this to be a significant delay,” said Semchuck. And we do still anticipate that the bridge will be ready to go in the fall of 2013. But because of them (the birds) being a protected species work can’t happen within a hundred metres of the water bodies containing their nests.”

Semchuck said so far the delay due to the birds has only been a few weeks, which is insignificant during a construction season. She said since the sightings construction crews have still been able to work on other areas that are not near the nests.

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“We are told that these birds leave their nests typically sometime in August,” said Semchuck.

“What I was told yesterday is three nests are still on one slough and a female and her chicks have been found in a second slough, so even sort of from the time of this discovery it looks like there has been fewer nests as time progresses,” she added.

Construction of the new St. Louis Bridge began in January 2011 and over the course of the last year the earthwork and concrete was finished. As well, the north and south abutments and the piers for the bridge have been completed.

Construction for the bridge was originally hoped to be finalized in 2012, however in January that was pushed back to the fall of 2013 due to a delay in the delivery of its steel girders.

Semchuck said the girders are expected to arrive sometime in the fall and will be installed later in the winter once the river has frozen over.

srolles@panow.com

twitter:@sarahlynnrolles