Calgary closes bridge after deterioration discovered

CALGARY, ALTA. — Jaipur Bridge in Calgary, a major south connection between the Eau Claire area and Prince’s Island Park, has been shutdown due to deterioration

City officials made the decision earlier this month after an inspection revealed accelerated damage from water and salt.

Jaipur Bridge has been inspected annually since 2012 due to its progressive deterioration. Two inspections were undertaken in February and December to monitor the structural condition. City officials said that based on the latest inspection, there are concerns regarding the structural integrity of the bridge.

“Next week, we are going to have a third-party engineering consultant inspect the bridge. From that assessment, we will determine what can be done to safely extend the use of the bridge until its scheduled closure in August,” said Charmaine Buhler, bridge maintenance manager in the city’s roads department.

The Jaipur Bridge was built in 1968 and is currently in year 52 of operation of its anticipated 50-year design-life. As a result, the decision was previously made to close the bridge for demolition in August 2020 and build a new bridge in 2021.

In the meantime, three of four crossings into Prince’s Island Park will remain open. Detours are being put in place, and maps will be on-site with alternate access routes.

“We recognize this is an inconvenience to the public and local businesses,” said Buhler. “We thank them for their understanding as we work through potential solutions. We will update Calgarians as we learn more.”

The city is currently in the design phase for the new Jaipur Bridge with construction expected to begin next year.

“Citizen feedback on the recommended bridge type at a recent open house lead us to re-visit the design criteria,” says Katherine Hikita, senior structural engineer for transportation Infrastructure. “We want to make sure we’re making the right decisions today for the future of the bridge and Prince’s Island Park.”

The City will present the revised Jaipur Bridge design to the Calgary Planning Commission along with the Eau Claire Promenade and Plaza projects in 2020.