While weather and high water have slowed the $5.7 million repair job to keep the city’s 21st Century Waterfront from sinking, city officials say two major upcoming events will not be scuttled.
Chattanooga Public Works Administrator Lee Norris said Friday that Riverbend and the Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga triathlon, both of which will use the waterfront, will not be delayed.
“Riverbend will be good to go as long as they’ve cleared the second mooring post [upstream of the Coca-Cola Stage]. I think we are good there,” Norris said. “And for [the Ironman], we can just change the launch point on that if we need to.”
In December, Norris said work would be completed by May 1. But that date has been moved to May 14, four days before prep work for Riverbend begins and three days before the massive endurance race.
Even if all the work isn’t completed, Norris said, workers will clear the site to allow space for residents and merchant booths at the events. To boot, Smith Contractors, the company that was awarded the construction job, will pay $3,000 for each day past the May 14 deadline.