Homeowners who live in the vicinity of the new Golden Ears Bridge in Pitt Meadows, B.C., say pile driving and other construction work is altering the stability of nearby land and damaging their homes.
One resident, who lives near the on-ramp for the bridge, said she noticed problems about a year and a half ago when construction crews were doing pile driving work and again during recent preparations for road paving.
There are huge cracks around the foundation beams at Bev Willard's house where part of the dog run fence had to be taken down when the ground beneath it fell away.
"Our whole yard, our driveway, our sidewalks, everything needs to be replaced,'' Willard said.
These concerns are being expressed just months before the planned opening of the Golden Ears Bridge, which is expected to dramatically alter traffic patterns around Maple Ridge and Langley.
Willlard says engineers employed by a bridge contractor were sent out in November 2007 to take measurements.
"They sent us reports, but unfortunately we didn't sign the reports, because it implied that the property was that way prior to the bridge construction. They called it natural settling."
But Willard doesn't buy it.
She says it's unsafe to venture out onto her patio, which has a definite slope.
Several neighbours -- about eight in all -- have experienced similar problems, and have waited two summers for TransLink to do something about it.
"We want them to either repair it or replace it,'' Willard said.
The bridge's contractor declined to go on camera, but did say engineers visited the affected properties about a week ago.
But the residents are not optimistic that they will be able to enjoy their yards this summer.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry
