WATCH ABOVE: The new Walterdale Bridge was supposed to open this fall, but as Fletcher Kent reports, the city announced construction has been delayed.
EDMONTON — The opening of the Walterdale Bridge has been delayed one year. The City of Edmonton announced on Wednesday the opening date for the new bridge has been pushed back from fall 2015 to fall 2016.
The reason for the delay is the steel required to build the new bridge began arriving months later than planned, according to the City.
“We are disappointed that the new Walterdale Bridge will not open to public service in fall 2015 as we had anticipated,” said Barry Belcourt, City of Edmonton.
“We know many Edmontonians will also be disappointed and we regret the delay.”
A company in South Korea fabricated the 42 pieces of steel that will make up the bridge. About half of the beams for the main arch have arrived, but much of the rest of the bridge, including the deck, have not.
In March, the City said the project was on schedule. The old Walterdale Bridge will continue to be open to traffic until the new bridge is finished. Traffic and river valley trail detours will remain.
The project’s general contractor Acciona/Pacer Joint Venture said without the steel it wasn’t able meet deadlines. According to the City, the company will assume responsibility for the delay, which will include paying steep penalties.
The city said the delays will cost contractors $10,000 a day once they miss the original opening date.
“The APJV is disappointed that construction is delayed due to issues with the structural steel manufacturer. The APJV has implemented, and will continue to implement, various mitigation strategies to resolve these challenges,” said Raquel Garcia, APJV Managing Director.
“The City is protecting its interests by holding the contractor accountable and will ultimately levy penalties as a result,” explained Belcourt.
The delay will not create additional costs for taxpayers, the City added. The project is still set at $155 million. Construction on the bridge started at the beginning of 2013.
Twenty-two of 42 pieces of the Walterdale’s signature arch have now arrived.
When all the pieces arrive, a complex process to erect the bridge will begin. The assembled arches will be rolled on rails onto barges. They’ll then be floated up the North Saskatchewan River. In two stages they’ll then be hoisted into place by massive winches. When complete, the arches will be as tall as the High Level Bridge.
BELOW: Animation showing the procedure that will be used raise the arches for the new bridge.
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