Work on the ongoing Bryant-Denny Stadium construction project at the University of Alabama was briefly suspended last weekend after an undisclosed number of workers had positive tests for the coronavirus. Work resumed Monday, according to the project’s chief contractor, the Montgomery-based Caddell Construction Company.
“The safety of all of our employees and trade partners is our top priority,” Caddell said in a statement released to The Tuscaloosa News on Tuesday night. “In addition to adhering to all established protocols to protect our workers, Caddell restricted operations over the past weekend after receiving notice of positive tests among some employees and trade partners. This allowed us to engage in additional deep-cleaning and provide testing by an independent laboratory so all of our team members could be cleared before returning to the job site.
“Our processes meet and/or exceed OSHA and CDC guidelines. We will continue to act on the latest guidance and information to promote the health and safety of our essential workforce.”
The statement did not specify the number of cases at the site.
The University of Alabama also responded to The News with a prepared statement indicating it had “provided sanitation supplies … and personal protection equipment” to all contractors.
“From the start of the pandemic, UA has continuously mandated that our campus contractors take all necessary steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said the statement from UA’s Office of Strategic Communications. “The contractors immediately adapted operations and processes, engaged in heightened cleaning and took other protective measures for the health and safety of their employees. The University directly provided sanitation supplies, thermometers and signage at all construction sites, and made personal protective equipment available to all contractors. Those processes, which have been in place since early March, are continuously refined based on the latest guidance from state, federal and industry leaders in order to protect the health and safety of the campus community.”
Work on the $107 million first phase of the renovation began in November. Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne said on a video Q-and-A moderated by UA athletics last week that construction was “on schedule” despite a January accident in which two workers were injured by falling beams.
Alabama’s first home game is scheduled for Sept. 12 against Georgia State, although the ongoing coronavirus response could affect either the dates of games or the presence of fans in the stadium for games.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or via Twitter @cecilhurt
