Weeks after officials were forced to keep a major roadway closed to traffic over delays in construction of a new bridge, the roadway reopened for the Tuesday morning commute.
At about 5:30 Tuesday morning, signs and road blocks came down – and drivers were allowed to use Groat Road once again.
The roadway had been closed after four of seven steel girders being installed on the new 102 Avenue Bridge over Groat Road buckled at about 2:15 a.m. on March 16.
In the weeks that followed, a super crane had to be brought in to help relieve pressure on the steel – over time, almost all of them straightened.
“We want to thank all the motorists and commuting public for a lot of stress and delays over the last three weeks, but that’s behind us now,” Byron Nicholson, Director of Special Projects with Transportation Services said.
Now, the City is working to adjust traffic signals and lift parking bans brought in during the extended closure of Groat Road.
“[In the] meantime, the project team is moving on to the next phase, which is continuing to analyze the structure and coming up with next steps,” Nicholson said.
Officials are working to determine if the girders can still be used, or will have to be replaced – if replacements are needed, the bridge could be delayed for up to a year.
That delay is a burden area businesses fear.
“It’s already been difficult enough with the original closure, let alone an extended closure,” Allison Maclean at Carbon Environmental Boutique said.
“I know the businesses are frustrated, justifiably so,” City Councillor Scott McKeen said.
McKeen, who is the councillor for the ward where the construction is taking place said the City is doing what it can to bring more people to the area.
Going forward, officials said the impact on Groat Road during the rest of construction will be limited, with closures slated for evenings and weekends.
Updates on why the girders buckled, and the future of those pieces of steel are expected in the coming weeks.
With files from Ashley Molnar
