The Mission Bridge will close to vehicles on Friday evening after traffic dies down, although pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use it, the City of Calgary said.
Major rehabilitation work on the bridge along Fourth Street S.W., which was built in 1915 and is one of the oldest in Calgary, began in May. The city said the $17.8-million repairs should extend its life for another 35 years.
The bridge will be closed for about six months for repairs to its vehicle traffic lanes, and the width of the sidewalk will be reduced in some sections, so cyclists are encouraged to get off their bikes and walk when crossing it.
The city is also improving accessibility and safety on the bridge by adding multi-use pathways to each side and upgrading lighting along it.
The city said the closure will speed up construction work by about a year and reduce environmental risks in the area.
It’s expected to reopen in both directions some time in the spring, with the entirety of the work expected to be complete later in 2025.
Max Lacroix, project manager and senior structural engineer with the city, said in a release that crews are doing their best to minimize the impact to people and businesses in the area while work is ongoing.
“We have progressed well over the summer on the repairs required to the bridge’s exterior and are ready to start work on its interior,” Lacroix said.
“Understandably, the closure is a challenging period for people living, working or playing in the Mission District, however, this allows us to best manage the bridge’s repairs so it can last for another 35 years until requiring any further intervention.”
Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes and leave a bit earlier on their commute while the bridge is closed.
The city added it will keep in touch with people in the neighbourhood and provide updates on bridge work as they become available.
“At our Oct.10 drop-in style open house, the project team was able to answer questions from interested parties about the project; we’re pleased to share that everyone who joined us was aware of the bridge closure and feels well prepared for Nov. 1,” the city said in its release.