It is going to be a bit longer before the Saint Patrick Street Pedway in uptown Saint John reopens.
A $1.6-million redevelopment was supposed to be done at the end of October, but that is no longer the case.
“Due to unexpected challenges encountered by the contractor, the opening of the pedway has been delayed,” the city said in a news release on Wednesday.
“The current expectation is for the pedway to open later this year. We will continue to update the public as we near the completion.”
A section of the pedway connecting Market Square and Brunswick Square has been closed since early April.
Officials said the two aging escalators are being replaced with wide stairs and a second elevator is being installed as part of the $1.6-million project.
“These necessary upgrades will result in a significant reduction in annual energy and maintenance costs and are required to provide an improved level of service to the community,” the city has said.
The current escalators and elevator are original to the building and were installed in 1983 as part of the construction of the Saint Patrick Street pedway system.
Officials said mechanical failures and safety issues have forced the two escalators to be closed frequently over the past two years.
Those repairs have resulted in higher maintenance costs and inconvenience to the public and tenants, said the city.
“We are confident that this improvement will be worth the wait, providing a convenient and accessible experience for all,” said the city.
“Businesses and services within the pedway system remain open during construction and we encourage the public to continue to visit.”
Access remains open from City Hall to the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.
