By Matt Van Dongen

The Hamilton Spectator

Final inspections of Hamilton's long-delayed stadium are expected to begin Thursday but the city doesn't expect to take possession until mid-April.

"My gut feeling is we're still five to six weeks away," said public works head Gerry Davis at the latest Pan Am subcommittee meeting Tuesday. "Where I see the project now, by mid-April, we should be in there."

The city is still waiting to take possession of the $145-million stadium that was supposed to be finished last July.

No representatives from the contractor, Ontario Sports Solutions, or provincial project oversight agency Infrastructure Ontario attended the meeting Tuesday.

But Davis said 139 "non-compliant items" remain to be either fixed or negotiated before the contractor can expect to reach substantial completion," a contractual standard that must be met before $89 million in payments will be released for the work.

Some of the problems require compensation, not a fix — for example, a room that ended up being smaller than requested.

Davis said the contractor expects to formally request inspections Thursday from both city building inspectors, who sign off on an occupancy permit, and IO's independent certifier, who determines substantial completion.

But that process will likely take at least 10 days — and maybe quite a few more, if the certifier orders the contractor to do more work.

There are also three construction liens outstanding on the building that must be dealt with before it is turned over to the city, Davis added.

The city has already booked community group events and practices in the stadium for May. So far, Davis said he's "confident" they won't lose out.