While no one was hurt, the amount of damage caused when a Lorne St. bridge collapsed more than two years ago was immense, said a Ministry of Labour inspector Thursday.
“The (bridge) deck has been chipped and demolished completely to the outside columns,” said Claude Nadon, one of the first witnesses in a trial expected to last three weeks.
“The columns down to the foundation and a 90-degree (concrete) section had all collapsed.”
Nor Eng Construction faces seven counts of failing to carry out measures under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, while Remisz Consulting Engineering faces two counts. Glenn Bot, owner of Nor Eng, faces two counts, while Wojciech Remisz, owner of Remisz Consulting, and Remisz Consulting employee, Cristian Constantiescu, each face one count.
The bridge was undergoing rehabilitation work when one side collapsed around 10 am on May 7, 2004. A crew of workers from Nor Eng were on a coffee break and returning to the scene when it suddenly gave way.
Ministry lawyer Wes Wilson said the Crown won’t try and prove the cause of the collapse during the trial, but said he intends to prove allegations based on deficiencies in the design plan and deficiencies in implementing approved plans.
The trial will feature highly sophisticated evidence from numerous expert witnesses in bridge design and construction techniques, said Wilson.
Under cross-examination, Wojciech Remisz asked Nadon Thursday why he didn’t interview everyone who was on the construction site that day before the ministry laid charges.
Nadon responded he interviewed numerous people involved and reviewed many photographs and documentation and provided all information to Crown counsel, who decided there was sufficient evidence to lay charges.
When asked why ministry inspectors were not onsite when the bridge was being raised or during ground excavation during construction, Nadon said ministry officials are not required to be on site during construction projects, although inspectors often do make regular visits during the process.
The trial is being heard before Justice Yvon Renaud of the Ontario Court of Justice.
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