Construction of the Fifth St. Bridge in Chatham has been pushed back a few days.
The bridge was originally slated to close for six months on June 29, however, the date has now been pushed to July 4.
The push comes as a relief for a Chatham-Kent Councillor Michael Bondy who was concerned about the bridge closing right before Chatham's Canada Day celebrations, which were set to wrap up at Tecumseh Park.
Bondy says he emailed the municipality's engineering and infrastructure department, asking for the closure to be pushed back, adding it would be "insane" and "illogical" to keep it as June 29. However, the reply wasn't one he was hoping for.
"I was informed that no we can't [change the date] and we're sticking to this, and thanks for the email but it's happening anyways," says Bondy. "Magically, 24 hours later they changed their mind... There was a lack of common sense, but at least logic prevailed in the end -- it would have been completely insane."
Now the bridge is expected to be closed from July 4 until December 22, as part of a rehabilitation project.
Bondy says the six-month closure does come as an inconvenience for those looking to get downtown, however, it's something that needs to be done.
"It's a necessary evil, the bridge has to be repaired and fixed," he says. "The completion date runs very closely to the [holiday] shopping season so is it a concern? Yes. But is there a good time to do it? No, it has to be done."
Bondy says he's hoping to see the bridge work stay on schedule and be completed on time.
To keep track of how construction progress is going, click here.