City of Vancouver sues contractors over ‘negligent’ work on Granville Bridge

The City of Vancouver is suing three contractors over work on the Granville Bridge that it alleges was full of “deficiencies” and “defects.”

The work took place between 2019 and 2021.

In a notice of civil claim, the City says the contractors — Associated Engineering, Graham Infrastructure LP, and Ross Rex Industrial Painters — were hired for rehabilitation work to replace expansion joints, install rubber troughs to protect bridge pieces from run off, and recoat the structural steel.

The City alleges the bulk of the work was done incorrectly and the contractors were negligent, saying that the defects in the work pose a “real and substantial danger” to the public who use the bridge because of the risk of accelerated corrosion and degradation of the structural steel.

“At all material times, during and after the Work was completed, the Defendants knew or ought to have known that their services, work, or products would give rise to the Defects/Deficiencies, Resultant damage, and/or dangerous conditions, thereby creating hazards for users of the Granville Bridge and the City’s employees, contractors, and representatives who access the Granville Bridge,” the notice said.

The City is seeking unspecified damages, costs, and interest.

This comes as the city is working on a $50 million project to add pedestrian safety upgrades to the Granville Bridge. Called the Granville Connector, the porject will add a bike line and other pedestrian improvements to the bridge.

The companies haven’t filed a response, and none of the claims have been proven in court.

With files from Cole Schisler.