All the "worst case scenarios" have come to pass on the 102nd Avenue bridge project — and it likely won't be open to motorists until Fall 2016.

City road construction manager Barry Belcourt on Wednesday told council crews hope to work through the winter to get the road opened sooner, but it would be too risky.

Businesses along 102nd Avenue near 124th Street said the city assured them work would continue through the winter. Fern Janzen, owner of Paddy's International Cheese Market, said she doesn't think she'll be able to make it until September.

"I'm terribly disappointed," Janzen said. "I don't know how many of us can last all that much longer."

A city spokesperson said the transportation department only promised to investigate the option of winter construction. But Belcourt said that would involve warming the bridge with a large tent-like structure, which would have meant the strong possibility of snow and ice weighing down the tent or wind blowing it onto Groat Road.

"Groat Road is so narrow, if anything ... fell off … it's probably going to cause you to veer and cause a car pile-up," he said.

That means the bridge will likely open in September 2016, depending on the weather.

The next major step in construction involves pouring concrete, which requires three weeks of plus-five temperatures. The city's contractor now plans to start pouring as soon as the spring thaw begins.

"Let's just hope for a warm spring," Coun. Bev Esslinger said.

Contractor covering cost of delays

In the meantime, the contractor will pay $11,500 in penalties starting from October 2, 2015 until the project is ready for traffic.

The project was delayed by a year after one of the subcontractors failed to brace the bridge girders properly in March, causing the girders to buckle.

Belcourt said the only good news they've had since then is that the girders could be repaired rather than replaced. Otherwise, the project would fall further behind.

The fines paid by the contractor will be used to cover the cost of delays, including extra engineering work to verify the safety of the girders.

Coun. Scott McKeen asked if there would be compensation for businesses suffering from the road closures, but the answer was no.

Instead, the city will look for ways to encourage people to shop in the area. Mayor Don Iveson floated the idea of a cash mob to drive people to local shops.

"We're really going to have to step up our game to support these events and drive traffic."

Fern Janzen, owner of Patty's International Cheese Market on 102nd Avenue, said the city assured her crews would work to finish the bridge during the winter. She's not sure if her business can survive until September. (CBC)

Janzen said small local businesses cannot handle the extended road closure plaguing the area.

"We've gone through the anger and the rage and the disbelief. Now it's like, 'What more can we do?' "

Area businesses can apply to pay less tax as compensation for the difficulties they've experienced since the road closed. The decision to lower their taxes is up to city council.