Concerns over the structural integrity of the Jaipur Bridge forced the city to close the 52-year-old crossing.
The Jaipur Bridge is the primary south connection between Eau Claire and Prince’s Island Park.
The bridge had been inspected annually since 2012, and had two inspections this year, the most recent carried out earlier this month. The latest inspection showed accelerated deterioration from water and salt, the city said. City structural engineers recommended the closure and third-party inspection.
“Next week, we are going to have a third-party engineering consultant inspect the bridge. From that assessment, we will determine what can be done to safely extend the use of the bridge until its scheduled closure in August,” said Charmaine Buhler, Bridge Maintenance Manager at Roads, in a prepared statement sent out Saturday.
Three of the other four crossings into the park remain open. Detours will be put in place with maps showing alternate routes, the city said.
“We recognize this is an inconvenience to the public and local businesses,” said Buhler.
“We thank them for their understanding as we work through potential solutions.”
Design process for new Jaipur Bridge ongoing
The bridge is past its 50-year design-life and it’s slated for demolition in August 2020. A new bridge will be built in 2021.
That bridge is in the design stage, but feedback from a recent open house had the city pause the project to examine the most current design proposal.
“Citizen feedback on the recommended bridge type at a recent open house lead us to re-visit the design criteria,” said Katherine Hikita, Senior Structural Engineer, Transportation Infrastructure.
“We want to make sure we’re making the right decisions today for the future of the bridge and Prince’s Island Park.”
Designs for the Jaipur Bridge will be presented to the Calgary Planning Commission in 2020. Along with those designs, plans for the Eau Claire Promenade and Plaza projects will also be presented.
For more information on the Jaipur Bridge project, visit the city’s web page.
