City Readies for Walterdale Bridge Construction: Part 1, Pre-construction Activities

After years of archaeological study, public involvement, planning and design, the Walterdale Bridge replacement project takes an exciting step forward with construction beginning this spring. Leading up to construction kick-off, the City will share details of construction, its impacts and what they mean to Edmontonians.

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Anyone who has crossed the bridge or walked the river valley trails will have noticed a number of recent changes both along and in the North Saskatchewan River.

In late 2012 the shared-use trails surrounding the current Walterdale Bridge were closed and jogging loop detours created. Trail detours will remain in place until construction is completed on the new bridge.

In early January, crews began clearing trees from both the north and south banks to allow for access roads down to the river. These access roads have been built on previously disturbed soil. Even so, the project team will continue to take precautionary measures to ensure the area is treated respectfully in keeping with the area’s historic and cultural significance. An archaeologist and a rotation of Aboriginal monitors will be on site for pertinent excavation and in-river construction activities.

Once access roads were completed in early February, the project team went to work creating in-river berms that will facilitate construction of the new bridge. The berms and access roads will be in place until the new bridge is completed.

Tree removal has also extended on the south bank to accommodate the final road alignment. This will match Queen Elizabeth Park Road and Walterdale Hill Road with the new bridge. When the new bridge opens to traffic in fall 2015, both river banks will be landscaped and new trees planted.

Construction on the new bridge and roadway connections will kick off in spring 2013.

For more on the Walterdale Bridge project, go to www.edmonton.ca/WalterdaleBridge.