Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was talking about my travels across the Southern NWT and asked questions of the Minister of Infrastructure. I'd like to follow up with some questions here today.
Mr. Speaker, I noticed that, when I was crossing the Deh Cho Bridge, on both sides there was work being done and gravel being moved from a spot along the north side that hadn't been moved in a long time, and this work was being done by a company from outside the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise what work is being done to the bridge and the rationale why a company not from the Northwest Territories is doing this work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of our bridge monitoring inspection regime, we've been closely monitoring the side slopes on the approaches and the embankment movements of the Deh Cho Bridge. Some longitudinal cracks have appeared and we've been observing them on the bridge approaches, and as a proactive and preventive measure of our ongoing part of our maintenance program, we're working to stabilize these approaches and embankments to stop future cracking of the longitudinal cracks that are appearing.
As to the contractor that's on-site, they are called GeoStabilization International. This was awarded, a contract, through public procurement through the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for his answer. That's very helpful and clears up a number of things. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please tell us if this work is covered under the warranty or are these additional costs that the Government of the Northwest Territories has to cover with this bridge?
The cost of this preventative work is actually covered by various bridge capital projects. It's ongoing preventative bridge maintenance across our system, and it's there to extend the life of our bridge assets.
I appreciate the department is actually doing preventative work on there. I was hoping it would be covered under the warranty, but I guess it isn't; it's part of our new capital projects or O and M direction.
I've also heard during my travels there that the slope on both sides is very steep and some truckers, especially on the south side, have to speed up to get across the peak there. If they don't, the vehicle could stall. Can the Minister advise if he's heard these concerns and, if so, what is the department doing to address these issues?
I'm not aware of this concern. The bridge is built within normal sloping operating grades and, I suspect anyone who has a Class 1 driver's licence operating should have the skills to navigate the slope of that bridge.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer, but it's been an issue, so I'm addressing it to him so maybe he can look into it.
Mr. Speaker, I've also been told that one of the piers wasn't built correctly and it needs to be replaced. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise if this is true and what the department has planned to replace this pier? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm not aware of a requirement to replace any pier on the Deh Cho Bridge. This bridge has been functioning well since it opened in 2012, and as far as I'm concerned there's no need for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
