It’s been more than a year since the winning design was unveiled for Hamilton’s Pier 8 waterfront promenade, soon to be called ‘Copps Pier’. At the time city officials said construction would start in the spring.

But first the city is working to make sure the city’s new neighbourhood stays dry.

“We’re reconstructing the shore wall along Pier 8 all the way around where the Haida is and that work needs to be finished first before we start the park.” Gavin Norman, Waterfront development.

Work on the wall should start in December, however when the design team was selected in 2017, construction on the park itself was announced to begin this past spring. Gavin Norman, manager of the waterfront development team says those estimates didn’t factor in the work needed beneath the park.

“The sewer outlets that go under here, there are anchors for the shore wall that tie back here then there’s a park that plunked on top of it with all sorts of things that are immediately under it like water lines and electrical. So a lot of things to be considered, this is a coordination of designs it takes time so we don’t mess up so when we get to construction it goes smoothly.”

Copps pier will pay homage to Hamilton’s industrial roots by incorporating concrete, timber and steel in the structures, including the shore wall.

Ironically, the steel might be sourced from abroad.

“Steel products are typically built in every country or any region and in this particular instance the specifications for the shore wall the sheet steel piles are being supplied from Europe.”

A representative from ArcelorMittal Dofasco told CHCH that while the company used to make structural steel that would have been used to make the wall, they now focus on flat carbon steel coils.

Construction of the park is expected to be complete by the end of 2019 with an official grand opening set for 2020.