WATCH ABOVE: After being removed and repaired, the girders over Groat Road are being reinstalled. Shallima Maharaj reports.
EDMONTON — The damaged girders from the 102 Avenue bridge have been repaired and will be reinstalled.
“Since the original damage occurred to three girders back in March, city and contractor staff have been working around the clock to evaluate the damage, repair the girders and inspect their integrity,” said Byron Nicholson, director of special projects for Roads Design and Construction.
“The city and its experts are certain that this solution will be safe and reliable as we move forward with the project.”
Cold and heat processes were used to straighten girders 4, 5 and 6, which were damaged, and to restore the alignments. A section of girder 5 was cut off and replaced. The city says this is “standard practice in steel manufacturing.”
“A team of engineers, including the contractors, the consultant, city engineers and the third party engineering advisor to the city agreed that none of the girders would be used unless safety and integrity could be guaranteed beyond any doubt,” said Nicholson.
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He added the city is getting documentation that the bridge will be completely safe for its entire 75-year life.
Crews will be reinstalling the girders starting this Friday. So, in what’s becoming somewhat of a tradition in the Capital City, Groat Road will be closed again this weekend.
Since the infamous girder buckling incident, the stretch of road has been shut down for days at a time, including most weekends, to accommodate ongoing work to remove the damaged bridge girders.
READ MORE: Twisted metal over Groat Road leads to indefinite closure
Groat Road between 107 Avenue and River Valley Road will be closed from 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 15 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19.
READ MORE: Commuters will have to deal with further Groat Road closures
The weekend road closures are becoming somewhat of an expected annoyance for motorists in the city. Covering the closures has become a habit for Global 1 helicopter reporter Ryan Bradley.
“I wake up, I have a shower, I get in the helicopter and I fly to Groat Road,” he said Saturday on the Weekend Morning News.
“I’m sure you’re getting used to it.”
Once all the girders are back in place, secured and braced, a revised construction schedule – and new completion date – will be provided by the contractor.
WATCH: For Global 1 reporter Ryan Bradley, covering the Groat Road closures on the weekends is becoming old hat.
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