Contract dispute stalls work on N.W.T. bridge project

Construction has stopped on the Deh Cho Bridge in the Northwest Territories, due to a contract dispute between the corporation handling the project and the New Brunswick-based contractor.

Officials with Atcon Construction and N.W.T. transportation officials confirmed the work stoppage on the bridge at Fort Providence, N.W.T.

"The Deh Cho Bridge is an important project for Atcon Construction," Atcon spokeswoman Dorothy Innestold CBC Newsin a statement Friday.

"Obviously, we cannot discuss any contractual details about the project. What we can say is that contract disputes are a regular part of any major construction project of this magnitude."

Transportation officialswould only saywork on the bridge was halted either early this week or late last week. There is no word on whenconstruction will start again.

Officials referred all other inquiries about the work stoppage to the Deh Cho Bridge Corp. Andrew Gamble, the company's project manager, refused to commentFriday afternoon.

The bridge over the Mackenzie River will provide a year-round road link between Yellowknife and other communities in the Northwest Territories and Alberta.

Earlier this week, the New Brunswick government reached an agreement in principle for three loan guarantees totalling $50 millionfor Miramichi, N.B.-based Atcon.

One of theloan guarantees, for $10 million, is to help Atcon finance a steel fabrication facility that would build components for the Deh Cho Bridge.

Two subcontractors, Rowe Construction of Hay River and Ruskin Construction of Prince George, B.C., say their futures as Atcon's subcontractors are uncertain.

Rowe and Ruskin had been working on foundations for the bridge.

To date, the Deh Cho Bridge is estimated to have cost the N.W.T. government $165 million.