December opening promised for new bridge at Calgary zoo

The new 12th Street S.E. bridge will open for traffic Dec. 10, reconnecting Inglewood to the Calgary Zoo and the city's north side.

The $26-million span over the Bow River replaces the old steel truss bridge that had been at the site since 1908.

That old structure was closed to traffic a year ago.

Itwas lifted off its moorings last spring so it could be dismantled.

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Cassie Brannagan, a spokesperson with the city's transportation infrastructure department, said the bridge is being completed on schedule.

"We said that it would be open in the winter of 2017 and we are on budget."

The new structure directly links to St. George's Island, home of the zoo's non-indigenous exhibits.

An existing bridge on the north side of the island completes the river crossing to Memorial Drive, a major east-west connector. The project included rehabilitation of that span, the BainesBridge, as well asa flood protection barrier for the zooand new pathways along the Bow River.

"There will be a fully open road along Zoo Road all lanes open and the pathway system will be open, reconnecting people from Memorial to Inglewood and to St. Patrick's Island," said Brannagan.

Traffic resumes but other work still left to do

She said some other work willneedto be done in the area in the coming months.

Landscaping along the river next to Zoo Road won't happen until the spring, when warmer weather returns.

The traffic ramp on Memorial Drive just east of the Baines Bridge is also being widened. That work won't be completed until next summer.

"The ramp is going to become two-way traffic, allowing those travelling both east and westbound on Memorial access into Inglewood," said Brannagan.

A couple of other small projects still remain but won'taffect traffic.

She said there are plans to place pieces recovered from the old zoo bridge in a display near the new span.

As well, there will be a public art project. A sculpture will be placed in a greenspace near the south end of the new bridge.

Brannagan said further details on those projects will be announced next year.

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