Calgary,
16
July
2019
|
14:13
America/Denver

OPENING- 9 Avenue S.E. temporary bridge, over the Elbow River

The 9 Avenue S.E. bridge replacement project will reach its next milestone early Thursday morning, when traffic will shift onto the temporary bridge. Opening the temporary bridge to drivers allows construction of the new bridge, while supporting neighbouring businesses and communities:

  • allows the contractor to remove the existing bridge and build the new bridge in its place
  • keeps direct access open to the great businesses and shops on the historic 9 Ave. S.E., until the new bridge opens in fall 2020

“We know this crossing is incredibly important to both the local businesses and communities in the area,” says Project Manager Evan Fer. “It’s also a main connection to our city’s downtown and the growing East Village, plus a major Transit route. Closing it for a year and a half wasn’t an option.”

The following nighttime traffic lane closures are required on 9 Ave. S.E. to finalize the shift onto the temporary bridge:

  • Wednesday, July 17, 12:30 to 6 a.m. (early morning): FULL CLOSURE across Elbow River at 9 Ave. S.E. During this time, drivers can use alternate routes in the area, including MacDonald Ave. S.E., 25 Ave. S.E. to the south and 12 St. S.E./Zoo Road N.E. bridge to the east.
  • Wednesday, July 17, 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (overnight, into Thursday): traffic on the current bridge will be restricted to work on the transition areas at either end of the temporary bridge. People can still travel in both directions, but lane restrictions will be in place.
  • Thursday, July 18, 12:30 to 6 a.m. (early morning): FULL CLOSURE across Elbow River at 9 Ave. S.E. During this time, drivers can use alternate routes in the area, including MacDonald Ave. S.E., 25 Ave. S.E. to the south and 12 St. S.E./Zoo Rd. N.E., to the east.
  • Thursday, July 18, by 6 a.m.: OPEN temporary bridge to traffic.

Once the temporary bridge opens, 9 Ave. S.E. will operate just like it does today for the 19,000 vehicles who cross the river, daily, at this location. There will be no changes to the 8 St. S.E. intersection -all movements and turns will remain the same. People walking and cycling are detoured across the river, south to Macdonald Bridge and north to the Elbow River Traverse pedestrian bridge.

For the remainder of July, crews will prepare the site to remove the existing bridge, scheduled to occur over the next few months. Prefabricating the new bridge elements is already underway at an off-site facility. Construction on the new 9 Avenue S.E. bridge is scheduled to begin in fall 2019, opening in fall 2020.

Replacing the 110-year-old, 9 Avenue S.E. bridge is a partnership between The City of Calgary and the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation. For the next 100 years, the new bridge will improve flood resiliency, lower maintenance costs and improve cycling and walking connections with wider pathways on either side. It will continue to be a major gateway between our downtown, the exciting developments in East Village, and our historical Inglewood and Ramsay Communities.

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