by Robin Thompson
Buckle up: it’s going to be a challenging time for Cliff Bungalow-Mission residents as Mission Bridge undergoes much-needed repairs over the next year.
The bridge was opened to traffic in 1915 and comprises four concrete arches spanning the Elbow River. It last underwent a major rehabilitation in 1987 and is now in need of upgrading to extend its service life and improve mobility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
The project will include repairing bridge components such as the railing, approach slabs, piers, and abutments, and will mainly address the concrete deterioration across the structure. It will also redesign the bridge cross-section and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The rehabilitation work on the bridge structure will include:
• General concrete repairs.
• Construction of multi-use pathways on each side.
• Life-cycling the traffic signals at the north intersection.
• Redesigning the three traffic lanes and improving the connections at each end.
• Repairing the retaining wall and sidewalk northwest of the bridge along the elbow river.
• Enhancing lighting to improve visibility and accessibility.
• Updating the aesthetics of the bridge’s cross-section.
The project is set to stretch into 2025, so while it will be hugely inconvenient for those of us who use the bridge regularly, the project will greatly improve this critical link in Calgary’s transportation network, not to mention the crumbling sidewalks and railings along Elbow Drive.
Here is the link to see a rendering of how the bridge will look and for more information about the project as it progresses: www.calgary.ca/planning/projects/mission-bridge.html.
Click here to the Cliff Bungalow Community News home page for the latest Cliff Bungalow community updates.
Click here to the Mission Community News home page for the latest Mission community updates.
