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Walterdale Bridge new milestone lightens up Edmonton’s river valley

Click to play video: 'Walterdale Bridge shared use path opens'
Walterdale Bridge shared use path opens
WATCH ABOVE: Cyclists and pedestrians had a new route to cross the North Saskatchewan River starting Thursday morning with the opening of the Walterdale Bridge's shared use path – Dec 21, 2017

The new Walterdale Bridge is now living up to all its glory.

The new bridge looked much brighter Thursday as lighting on its arches was turned on.

Thursday morning also marked the opening of Walterdale’s shared-use path.

“We’re very happy, major milestone. [The] key element is the shared-used path; makes it unique in the world. Recognizable landmark for our city,” Ryan Teplitsky, with the City of Edmonton, said.

There is still work left in and around the Walterdale Trail connections. It’s expected to be completed in the new year.

“Everything is going to be fenced off around the outside of the shared-use path and there will still be a construction zone,” Teplitsky said.

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“The surrounding trail networks won’t be completed until spring next year. So the only connections are going to be the north/south connection and then we’ll fully complete the rest of the project in the spring and summer.”

READ MORE: Edmonton’s new Walterdale Bridge opens after lengthy delay

Edmontonians waited for years for the new Walterdale Bridge to open. After several delays, it opened to motorists in September.

The $155-million Walterdale Bridge project began in the spring of 2013.

Construction was initially scheduled to be complete in fall of 2015. However, during the spring of 2015, the date was pushed back because the bridge’s 42 steel beams, which were made in South Korea, began arriving months later than expected.

READ MORE: Walterdale Bridge contractor could face $10.5M in late fines

The new bridge was then scheduled to open in late 2016, but it was pushed back again to mid-2017 because of weather-sensitive work, including asphalt paving, which couldn’t be done until after winter.

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