Construction to replace the Shindleman Aquatic Centre roof will begin in mid-June; But the re-opening of the pool will take longer than originally anticipated.

Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA) recently awarded the roof replacement job at Shindleman Aquatic Centre to Canotech Consultants for $1.79-million. The project will begin June 11 and PRRA general manager David Sattler says the estimated completion date is late November 2017, about two months behind the initial projection of September 2017.

Sattler says the construction delay is tied to a North American supply shortage of material necessary for liner panel, used in re-doing the roof.

The Shindleman Aquatic Centre has been closed to the public since Oct. 31, 2016, due to stress corrosion cracking in the roof's stainless steel purlins.

“We're disappointed and certainly we have a lot of user groups that will be disappointed too,” Portage la Prairie Mayor and PRRA board chair Irvine Ferris says. “However, I have to stress that we want this done once and we want it done right.”

The entire pool's roof has to be removed and replaced, Sattler explains. The $1.79-million repair job will also include modifications to the dehumidification system, replacement and rerouting of ducting, as well as sandblasting and re-coating all exposed structural steel.

No other closures around Stride Place, such as the gymnasium or rooms in close proximity to the pool, are expected while construction takes place.

“(Canotech Consultants) have recently completed a similar project under different circumstances at the Brandon Sportsplex,” Sattler notes. “They are well versed in working in a pool environment which is a great asset to us because they understand some of the technicalities with the pool system, the floor and the liner that need to be respected during the project.”

The PRRA, City of Portage la Prairie and RM of Portage la Prairie launched a legal claim against contractors, engineers and consultants involved in the former PCU Centre — known now as Stride Place — construction in September 2016, after independent engineering reports showed structural concerns with the pool's roof.

Sattler says a case management system was recently put in place by the plantiffs' lawyer to help move the timeline of the legal proceedings along. The current indication is a court date in early 2018 to hear the claim.

“We were told at the beginning these things typically move slowly, at a snails pace,” Ferris explains. “We expect to fully recover these costs. We will be successful.”

“However, that's going to take some time.”

See related articles:

"Shindleman Aquatic Centre Closes"

"PRRA Releases PCU Centre Roof Report Details"

"City, RM, PRRA Taking Legal Action"