Work stalled until US Coast Guard gives green light.
It is a story that is threatening to run as long as the bridge it features has stood. But the ongoing battle to demolish the Bellaire Bridge has hit another stumbling block: The general contractor on the demolition job said the U.S. Coast Guard will not issue a notice to proceed at the current time.
KDC Investments recently won a battle in court, after a judge sided with the company confirming KDC had the title to the bridge. The company that contested that ownership, Advanced Explosives Demolition has filed an appeal which ties up the case in court again. Because of that, a Coast Guard representative says they will wait until the court case is resolved before issuing the notice to proceed.
Lee Chaklos of Delta Demolition said the Coast Guard’s decision doesn’t bring the project to a standstill. Chaklos said he has a subcontractor from Shadyside — R & D Concrete — taking core samples of concrete and steel. He said those samples will help determine if the bridge is structurally sound enough to hold the equipment needed for demolition.
Chaklos said he found out around 9 a.m about the Coast Guard holding the notice to proceed. However, he said it won’t stop him from applying for a permit from the city of Benwood and there are several tasks the company can handle in the near future.
“To the best of our knowledge, we don’t need a permit to work on the bridge over the water. As long as we take out the approach ramp, as long as we excavate the concrete and not do any structural damage to where the bridge would fall in the water, I don’t believe we would need a Coast Guard notice to proceed,” Chaklos said.
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