Historic bridge between Inglewood and East Village gets weight limits for final days

The historic bridge connecting Inglewood and the East Village needs lighter loads in its final days, city officials say.

The Ninth Avenue S.E. bridge is 110 years old and just had a less than favourable report card from a recent inspection.

As a "precautionary measure," the City of Calgary has decided to limit how much weight the truss bridge holds for the last few months it will be used.

The bridge, which runs between Seventh Street and Eighth Street S.E., is set to be replacedby $23-million new one in late 2020.Construction isscheduled to begin this year.

Under the new restrictions, effective immediately,no truck heavier than 5,000 kilograms, orfivetonnes, will be allowed to use the busy river crossing.

One of the three lanes will be closed permanently, as well, to cut down the number of vehicleson the bridge at a time.

"The bridge structure has served Calgary for 110 years. This restriction is being put in place to ensure viability until it is replaced," city bridge maintenance managerCharmaineBuhlersaid in the release.

Area councillor Gian-CarloCarrasays one city bus can cross the bridge at a time and fire trucks will take up all lanes of traffic.

New bridge coming

Buhler assured drivers the new bridge will be built with heavy trucks in mind. There will also be a fourth lane added for vehicles carrying two or more people.

The new bridge will include a cycle and pedestrian pathway on each side and provide a safe emergency route across the Elbow River.

Thecontract for construction workand a contractor is currently out for tender.

For construction, the city intends to erect a temporary bridge and roadway to divert traffic from the old bridge. The new bridge will be built over the alignment of the existing bridge, so the final result will follow the same roadway.

The city hopes the new bridgewill last for at least 100 years.

The Ninth Street S.E. bridge opened in 1908 to horse and buggy traffic.It remains a popular throughway connecting Inglewood and Ramsay with the East Village and downtown.

Truck detour options

While the old bridge is still in use, any trucks over fivetonneswill have to take a detour.

If truck drivers are heading inbound from 17th Avenue and Blackfoot Trail S.E., go down 26thAvenue to Dartmouth Road, then 25th Avenue onto northbound Macleod Trail and into downtown.

Trucks on Ninth Avenue S.E. can turn onto Eighth Street to MacDonald Avenue and onto 12th Avenue and downtown.

Outbound, trucks must turn right to Fourth Street S.E. to get to 12th Avenue and Macleod Trail and onto Eighth Street.

The previous weight limit allowed trucks as heavy at 8.5tonnesto use the bridge.

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