City of Edmonton officials said Thursday that a section of Groat Road that passes under the 102 Avenue Bridge would be closed over the weekend, to allow for girder work on the bridge.
Starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 18, and ending at about 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, Groat Road will be closed to traffic between 107 Avenue and River Valley Road.
The closure will take place for girder work on the bridge – officials said one of the four bridge girders that buckled during installation on March 16 will need to be removed for inspection, to evaluate the damage and determine what will need to be done with it.
“Even while the evaluation of the girders is still ongoing it’s become clear girder 5 has to be taken off the bridge,” Byron Nicholson, Director of Special Projects with the City of Edmonton said.
It’s still not clear whether the steel will need to be replaced.
“If it turns out girder 5 has to be re-manufactured then we’re into months of delay, which in this climate pushes us into the next season,” Nicholson said.
“It’s kind of one step at a time, the big milestone will be to get the girder situation resolved and that’s what they’re working towards.”
As a result of the removal, additional bracing will need to be put in place – which is why officials are closing Groat Road between April 18 and 20. The girder is scheduled to be removed at a later date.
During the closure, parking will be banned along the east side of 116 Street between 100 Avenue and Jasper Avenue, and there won’t be access to the multi-use path along Groat Road during the closure.
With files from Ashley Molnar
