City of Vancouver seeks to recover costs from 3 companies over Granville Bridge repairs

The City of Vancouver is trying to recover costs from three companies involved in rehabilitation work on Granville Bridge, from 2019 to 2021, that was meant to extend the life of the structure.

In a civil suit filed in the B.C. Supreme Court, Vancouver claims rehabilitation work on the Granville Bridge, which was built in 1954, was improperly done and led to corrosion and degradation.

The Granville Bridge connects downtown to the Fairview areas of the city and has "significant" usage by motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, according to the suit.

None of the claims from the suit, filed on Feb. 14, have been proven in court.

The companies named in the suit are Associated Engineering Ltd., Graham Infrastructure LP, and Ross Rexx Industrial Painters Ltd.

The suit alleges work such as re-coating steel beams to protect them from corrosion was never completed with penetrating sealer and a trough system to divert runoff, did not work as intended, resulting in debris collecting on the bridge's structural beams.

"The defects/deficiencies and resultant damage pose a real and substantial danger," reads the suit.

CBC News has asked the companies involved to respond to the allegations.

The suit, which doesn't list the amount of money the city is seeking, states that it wants to recoup the cost of repairing the damage and remedying "dangerous conditions."

In a statement, an Associated Engineering spokesperson said the company has a long history with the City of Vancouver, and is working with the city to investigate the reported issues with the bridge.

"At Associated Engineering, our priority is the safety and well-being of the community," spokesperson Lianna Mah said. "We assure the public that the Granville Street Bridge remains safe for use."

Bridge is safe, says city

In a separate media release, the city said the Granville Street Bridge does not pose safety risk to the public.

The city acknowledges the language in the civil claim has raised some concerns without context.

"This language is a legal requirement for the claim," it said. "The defective work outlined in the civil claim does not pose an immediate risk to the public."

It said the city conducts regular inspections, maintenance and repairs to ensure public safety on the bridge.

The work that is subject to the suit is unrelated to ongoing Granville Bridge projects, which include the Granville Connector transportation upgrade and structural repairs and a recoating project.