Edmonton prepares next phase of bridge demolition

EDMONTON, ALTA. – Officials at the City of Edmonton are preparing to begin the next major phase of demolition work on the east side of the Groat Bridge.

The demolition work will feature 40-tonne Gantry cranes, concrete saws and other equipment to cut through, dismantle and haul away the concrete bridge deck and girders on the east side of the bridge, directly above River Valley Road and the shared-use path (SUP). 

The road and the path are needed as staging areas and transportation corridors during the operation. The city reminded residents that it is a prime safety consideration that only construction zone workers are in the area while girders, one of which weighs close to 80 tonnes, are taken apart. 

The work will require the temporary closure of the shared-use path below the north end of the bridge until the area is again safe for pedestrians, cyclists and other commuter and pet traffic to use. 

The closure takes effect January 20 and is scheduled to last until February 15. However, officials noted that the project timeline depends on the weather. 

“We really want Edmontonians who use that shared-use path under the bridge to know there is not a nearby detour that is safe—and we studied them all,” said Sam El Mohtar, director of transportation infrastructure delivery for the city. “It is a much better plan to steer clear of the area and use other routes instead of travelling down into the ravine system expecting that you’ll be able to get through under the bridge during that period.”

El Mohtar stressed that roadways that provide access for automobile traffic to and from the Groat Road Bridge are uniquely configured and the set-up is made even trickier by the zipper merge in place during bridge construction. 

“We hear what commuters not happy with this are saying and we studied the zone extensively,” said El Mohtar. “We looked at each suggested option. Each is significantly high risk and unsuitable for a safe crossing.” 

Projected completion is the fall of 2020 and includes an improved, 4.2m wide shared-use path on the east side of Groat Road Bridge.