Windsor construction workers waiting for next big project to start

The construction of theThe Rt. Hon.Herb Gray Parkway is mostlyin the rearview mirror, while the majorconstruction for theGordie Howe International Bridge is still a ways down the road.

That gap between mega-construction projects in the Windsor-Essex area is leaving many construction workers with little work these days, saidJim Lyons, executive director oftheConstruction Association of Windsor, in an interview with CBC News.

"It's almost a feastandfamine," said Lyons, who also head theHeavy Construction Association of Windsor.

While there are some contractors biting off more than they can chew right now working on residential projects, there are many others who are sitting at homehungry for work right now.

The unemployment rate in the Windsor area was down slightly, at 8.7 per cent in July, according to Statistics Canada.Montreal now leads the country with an unemployment rate of 8.9 per cent.Nationally, employment changed little in July.The unemployment rate remained at 6.8 per cent for the sixth consecutive month.

Many construction workers currently in need of a steady paychequein the Windsor-Essex areawere working on theretooling of the Chrysler Windsor Assembly Plant.

Now, many of thoseworkers are "waiting for that next big job," with many hoping to start working onbuilding the newGordieHoweInternational Bridge soon, said Lyons.