LTL Group Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

A Thunder Bay company has drilled through an underground obstacle at the north end of Marina Park, which means washrooms there will likely open soon.

LTL Directional Drilling Services was able to grind through an obstruction between Water Street and the washroom building Monday.

"There was a little bit of hesitation, but it wasn't too bad," foreman Cory Heins said.

John Bociurko, LTL's general manager, said the washrooms will likely be ready to use within the next two weeks, depending on whether other materials and parts are available.

"Everything we were out here to do, we did," Bociurko said.

LTL workers installed a six-inch steel casing beneath the ground Tuesday and plan to install a two-inch pipe through the casing later this week. Other work, like installing a pump, is required to finish the sewer connection.

It's not know what the underground object is, but Bociurko suspected it was a boulder or cobble stones.

The washrooms were supposed to open last June.

Woodbridge Constructors Ltd. was unable to drill through the rock so the washrooms didn't open.

Woodbridge filed a statement of claim against the city in November asking for more than $62,000. The city filed a statement of defense and launched a counterclaim, asking for $50,000 for breach of contract and $100,000 for having to hire another company and other court costs.

A Woodbridge employee confirmed that the lawsuits still haven't been settled.

LTL used a Vermeer horizontal drilling rig to perform the work.

Big-crowd events like the Thunder Bay Blues Festival, Canada Day celebration and Kite Festival are held at the park. Public washrooms are available at the former CN station and portable toilets are set up the north end of the park, and elsewhere during some events.