ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The tender for work on the deteriorating CN viaduct at Pitts Memorial Drive closes today, and the provincial Department of Transportation and Works anticipates work to repair the viaduct will begin later this summer.
A department spokesperson told The Telegram the work will include concrete and structural repairs, asphalt patching, expansion joint repairs and a guide-rail replacement.
An indicator of the worsening condition of the viaduct is a black net that was installed underneath it recently. One area resident told The Telegram he believes it was installed sometime this spring. The department called it “debris netting” and said it was installed “to catch any concrete that may come loose on the structure.”
The department spokesperson said there will be some lane closures while work on the viaduct is active. It may also be closed entirely for a short period of time, but that’s expected to happen overnight to mitigate traffic delays.
Traffic volumes on Pitts Memorial Drive are as high as 25,000 vehicles per day.
Other than the viaduct, there’s plenty of other roadwork planned for Pitts Memorial Drive this year, including:
- • Paving three ramps, and upgrades to the overpass at the interchange with the Trans-Canada Highway.
- • Repairs to a bridge in each of the eastbound and westbound lanes.
- • Repairs to the eastbound overpass at the Heavy Tree Road/Robert E. Howlett Highway interchange.
- • Replacement of median lights between the CN viaduct and the overpass over Bay Bulls Road.
Work is underway to pave a section of Pitts Memorial Drive between the Ruth Avenue interchange and CN viaduct.
Motorists are advised to check highway construction updates at nl511.ca or the 511 app before travelling, and use alternate routes where possible.
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