19 months and contractor still needs more time.
Master Blaster Eric Kelly could be forgiven for laughing quietly beneath his prodigious moustache.
It is 19 months since we reported that Kelly and the AED team were in the frame to pop the Bellaire Bridge over the Ohio River. Since that time, the bridge has been the subject of a protracted legal dispute over ownership with claims and counter-claims from Kelly and his erstwhile co-contractor on the project, Lee Chaklos of Delta Demolition. Blasting dates have been set and moved and the whole story has gone through more twists and turns that a slalom skier.
And now, just over a week before the sorry saga was due to end with a loud bang and some equally loud splashing, Chaklos has called for an extension for the 21 December federal deadline to complete the works.
Last month, Chaklos met with city officials to discuss traffic and other issues related to the demolition. Police Chief Frank Longwell says proof of insurance, a performance bond and other issues still need to be addressed. He says demolition won’t begin before early January.
Based on what has gone before, we’re not holding our breath.
Read more here.
