To accommodate main bridge construction, additional tree clearing is required. Tree removal is scheduled to occur the first week of December during daylight hours. Nearby residents and businesses should expect elevated noise levels during the work. While there are no road or trail closures expected, there may be minor disruptions to trail users while tree felling is occurring. Clearing will be focused on trees adjacent to the bridge on both sides of the river, around electrical infrastructure, as well as along 58 Street to remove select invasive vegetation. Refer to map below. As part of the project, significant revegetation will occur around the site, with over 60 new trees and 900 new plants being installed.

Regarding public art installations, residents may have noticed that the tiled bench and story stones at the north end of the bridge have been removed. These items were removed offsite by the City for safekeeping during construction. They will be restored prior to reinstallation and placed in the same area in summer 2026.

On September 3, as part of early works for the CPR Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation project, work will begin to install a protective sleeve around an existing water line adjacent to the timber trestle on the south bank of the river. This sleeve will ensure the water line is protected during critical bridge construction activities over the next two years. Pedestrians using the river trail can expect minor re-routing around the construction site. Area residents and businesses may experience elevated levels of noise during construction. This work is expected to take 4-5 weeks to complete.

August 2024

To support the CPR Pedestrian Bridge rehabilitation project, demolition of the old 55 Street underpass bridge is required. This bridge is no longer needed and removal is necessary to accommodate future construction access and pathway alignments. Demolition will begin the week of August 12 and take approximately three to four weeks to complete. The scope of work includes removing the existing bridge structure, installation of storm infrastructure, site grading, and temporary pathway construction. The CPR Pedestrian Bridge will remain open during this time, however, access to the bridge from 55 Street will be closed with pedestrians detoured to Gaetz Avenue. Significantly elevated levels of noise are expected during demolition, impacting adjacent residents and businesses.

July 2024

As part of early works for the CPR Pedestrian Bridge rehabilitation project, an aging water line 30 meters north of the bridge will be replaced starting July 10. This work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Disruption to the north-south trail is required to complete the work, however, the bridge will remain open for use. Area residents and businesses should expect elevated noise and dust levels during construction. If temporary disruptions of water supply are required, affected residents and businesses will be notified separately.

June 2024

Select tree removal is required in order to accommodate early works, including underground utility replacements and the removal of the old 55 Street underpass bridge.

Tree removal near the bridge will occur in two stages, with the first stage starting Monday, June 17 to Wednesday, June 20. Work will be scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nearby residents and businesses should expect noise. While there are no road or trail closures expected, there may be minor disruptions to trail users while tree felling is occurring.

A second phase of clearing along the river banks will occur at a later date, yet to be determined.

Clearing will be focused on trees around the old underpass and the greenspace north of the CPR Bridge. See map below.

The project team made significant progress through 2023, completing 95% of detailed design and commencing applications for regulatory authorizations. Work on final design tasks and acquisition of remaining regulatory authorizations will continue over the next two months. The construction tender is anticipated to be released at the end of Q1 / early Q2, with construction beginning in late Q2. Once a contractor is selected to complete the work and construction plans and schedules are established, the City will host an information session to provide the public an opportunity to discuss the project and construction impacts to the community.

As part of the project, significant public realm improvements are planned along the pathway corridor between 55 Street and 58 Street. The main focal point will be a prominent plaza/parkette on the north side of the bridge which will enable small community gatherings and provide an area for all to relax and enjoy the views of the bridge and river. View the high-level landscaping vision here (pdf). This vision is high level and will evolve as design details are worked through.

An important milestone has been reached with completion of preliminary design. Over the past four months, the project team has been working hard completing:

• Development of recommended structure alignment
• Geotechnical and environmental soil studies and recommendations
• Site survey and exposure of buried utilities
• Structural modelling of the existing trusses to determine capacity
• Hydraulic modelling of the Red Deer River
• Development of initial applications for project authorizations from Regulatory Authorities

As part of the preliminary design process, a bridge alignment study was completed. Multiple alignments, including an option to maintain the existing alignment, were assessed for risk, cost, and other impacts. The final adopted recommendation is to realign the bridge structure slightly downstream and north of the existing, which best addresses the following:

• Management of risks related to constructability, flooding, and reliance on the existing concrete substructure
• Impacts to the environment
• Impacts to buried and overhead utilities
• Alignment of active transportation corridor

View the recommended alignment of the CPR Pedestrian Bridge. (pdf). This alignment is subject to minor revisions as the project moves through detailed design.

Crews will be onsite beginning Tuesday February 21 to expose underground utilities using a hydro excavation truck. Nearby residents and businesses will hear an elevated level of noise during the work. To ensure public safety, open holes will be protected and backfilled shortly after.

What is hydro excavation? Soil is removed above the utility using a combination of pressurized water to loosen soil and a large vacuum to safely remove the loosened soil. This process ensures the utility is not physically touched and cannot be damaged.

Why is this happening? Exposing underground utilities will provide the design team with the exact location and depth of each utility, assisting in the design process and reducing project risks.

Crews will be onsite drilling boreholes into the ground adjacent to the bridge on both the north and south side of the river to determine soil properties. The information collected will guide the design of the new concrete foundations. Nearby businesses and residents may hear some noise during the work. In addition, short-term closures of the bridge are required. During the closures, bridge users will be detoured to the Gaetz Avenue crossing.