Groat Road will be closed to traffic for approximately three weeks as the City works to repair or remove four steel girders that twisted and buckled during installation for the 102 Avenue Bridge Replacement Project over the weekend.

Over the next three weeks, the City and the contract partners will work to stabilize the girders in order to inspect them and make sure the construction site is safe.

Council has said that the steel used for the project is not offshore, but from a local company.

“This is not offshore steel, this is steel that was on the continent, it’s provided by one of the leading edge steel companies in the Edmonton area,” said Barry Belcourt with the City of Edmonton.

Belcourt, who is Manager for Design and Construction said while it’s too soon to speculate, strong winds on Saturday night could have contributed to the buckling of the steel girders.

Officials said they will spend the next three weeks analyzing the girders by getting a large crane to stabilize the twisted steel.

Belcourt said “We should have the pressure on us. It’s our responsibility to deliver this project, do you think we sleep at night? No. The team I’m working with, my contractors, we’re embarrassed by this.”

The City discussed ways to manage the increased traffic demands and came up with the following:

  • Parking bans will remain on 109 Street, 116 Street and 124 Street for peak traffic times
  • Traffic signals have been adjusted at 116 Street and 107 Avenue
  • Monitor traffic flows on detour routes
  • Adjust signal timings
  • Provide additional signage

The City has yet to determine if the girders can be repaired before moving forward, however if they need to be replaced it could take up to 6 months to get new ones which pushes the completion date into fall of next year.

“I think we as a council need to humbly [and] sincerely apologize to Edmontonians that all of this has happened. It’s so regrettable [and] we will work 24/7 to get this rectified,” said Councillor Scott McKeen.

The City is focused on stabilizing the bridge for safety and opening Groat Road as soon as possible.

Updates are expected.

With files from Ashley Molnar