EDMONTON – Drivers in east Edmonton will be dealing with another construction headache starting Friday night, as a rehabilitation project on the overpass on 50 Street Bridge over Sherwood Park Freeway begins.
“We’re doing a rehabilitation on the bridge. It’s getting towards the end of its service life,” general supervisor Allan Bartman said.
“We’re actually looking to replace it but due to the LRT happening over the next five or so years what we’re doing is minor rehabilitation to hold it for the next 10 or so years.”
The $3 million rehabilitation is necessary to ensure motorists can travel safely over the bridge which was built in 1968. The project includes laying new asphalt and replacing deck joint seals.
There are two phases for the project which is expected to last four months.
Phase 1 will cause 50 street to be reduced to two lanes northbound and one lane southbound.
Phase 2 will result in one open northbound lane and two open southbound lanes on 50 Street. It’ll cause drivers who use the route to either deal with slower traffic or find an alternate route.
“There is significant volumes that use the road, especially morning peak hour and afternoon peak as well,” Bartman said.
Bartman is encouraging drivers who typically use 50 Street to use 75 Street or 34 Street.
Those travelling on Sherwood Park Freeway will also be impacted.
“If you’re leaving Sherwood Park Freeway, you won’t be able to come up onto the bridge and turn left. You will be able to come up and turn right,” Bartman explained.
“So if you’re heading eastbound, you can go south on 50 Street. If you’re heading westbound, you can go north on 50 Street.”
Bartman said the plan is to finish the project before work begins on 75 Street for the Valley Line LRT.
Comments