They may not have started exactly when everyone thought, but Town of Petrolia officials say constrction workers will have work on Petrolia Line complete on time.

Town officials said as recently as Monday that Birnam Construction would begin blocking of Petrolia Line at the Bear Creek Bridge July 19 and 20 for the $4.5 million project. But on Monday, the construction crews were no where to be seen.

Mike Thompson, Petrolia’s director of operations, then expected work to begin July 22. However by the end of the week officials were now saying the contractor would begin Monday.

He expected they would begin grinding the pavement off the road by the bridge first.

And while there were some delays – originally construction was expected to start the first week of July – Thompson is confident the outcome will be good.  “The most important thing is they’re going to be done by Nov. 13.”

He adds the downtown merchants have benefited having the date for construction pushed back. It’s now projected the construction from Tank Street to the Library won’t begin until late August.

“We have a firm commitment that as far as the town is concerned under no circumstances the construction won’t go beyond Nov. 13.”

The company will face a daily fine for every day after the Nov. 13^th deadline.