Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Status of new or continuing risks to heritage sites

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Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:46 am

Even before the flooding, there were plans afoot at City Hall to replace three historic suspension bridges along the Elbow River. After the flooding at a Council Committee meeting a City staff person spoke about inexpensively replacing the three spans (herald story reference). But how did the existing bridges fare?

The bridge at Elbow Drive to Rideau Road, the only wooden one, was pretty much wrecked including the cable-supporting bridge towers. On the other hand, the towers and cables of the two steel bridges at Sandy Beach and at Sifton Boulevard - Riverdale Avenue survived intact, though the suspended bridge decks were mangled. All the bridges were recently added to the City's heritage inventory. Here is hoping that surviving infrastructure is used to support new bridge decks and that all the bridges continue to contribute to historic character.

Links to information about the bridges:

Rideau Park
http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/LUPP/Pages/He ... urceId=704

Riverdale-Sifton Blvd.
http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/LUPP/Pages/He ... urceId=706

Sandy Beach
http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/LUPP/Pages/He ... urceId=704
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Re: Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:59 pm

Rebuilding, restoring one structure at a time
Unseasonal wet weather impedes repairs

Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, August 09, 2013

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/ne ... c3b1a30f2d

Excerpt:

Three suspension-style structures that cross the Elbow River at Rideau Park, Sifton Boulevard and Sandy Beach are a significant part of Calgary's pathway system and will be rebuilt - hopefully by the fall of 2014, according to Craig MacFarlane, the city's chief structures engineer...

"These sites will be remediated to something potentially similar to what was there," he said, noting there will be a public consultation process to determine what the new bridges will look like.

"I know there is some interest in preserving what was here," MacFarlane said.
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Re: Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:16 am

More on the Elbow River bridges from the City's news blog, August 15. It says the bridges are "irreparably damaged", which seems to indicate that even the two (out of three) bridges where the historic suspension towers and cables seem solid may be demolished. Also, there is a push to get demolition done by September 15 for environmental reasons to do with the river habitat. However, on the CBC eyeopener August 22 a spokesman seemed to indicate that if the towers and footings were sound they may yet survive and serve the river crossing. So stay tuned, things as yet not quite definitive for the surviving structures at Sifton Bouldvard-Riverdale and Sandy Beach. From a heritage POV it would be great to re-use the existing infrastructure if it is viable (which may be the fastest and most economical choice as well).

http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2013/08/ ... elbow.html

Herald blog: http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/08/ ... e-rebuilt/
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Re: Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:09 pm

Consultations planned on replacement of the historic Elbow River pedestrian bridges, starting September 17.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI ... ction.aspx
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Re: Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Wed Sep 04, 2013 4:04 pm

City has set up a web page for Elbow River Bridge replacement. Key dates are an information session on September 17 and an online survey with a deadline of September 22. A chance for heritage advocates to recommend retention of surviving bridge infrastructure if possible, or replacement that honours the historic bridges that were damaged in the flood. www.calgary.ca/elbowbridges
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Re: Elbow River pedestrian bridges

Postby newsposter » Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:55 am

bump ^
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