One of the main roads into the river valley from the Old Strathcona area was closed Monday, to make way for construction of the new Walterdale Bridge.
The city closed Queen Elizabeth Park Road Monday, from Saskatchewan Drive to the Walterdale Hill, as construction on the new bridge begins.
The road was closed to enable crews to realign it with the new bridge, which is being constructed alongside the old bridge.
Queen Elizabeth Park Road is expected to remain closed until November 2013, once that road is reopened, Walterdale Hill will be closed so it can be realigned as well.
Officials said it’s likely that Walterdale Hill Road will be closed next summer, and they hope to keep one of the two roads open at a time during construction.
However, an official admitted there’s a chance both could be closed at some point.
“We are not anticipating that at this point, but of course with the final tie-ins there may be some very short full closures required,” Allan Barton with Transportation Services said.
The city said drivers should detour using 99 Street and Scona Road, Groat Road or the James Macdonald Bridge.
While that road is closed, Walterdale Hill can be used to access the Kinsmen Sports Centre and the John Walter Museum.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
