Edmonton Alberta - The future of Edmonton's High Level Bridge is up for discussion this week in front of city councillors, who will consider a number of options for the aging structure, from basic repairs, to major renovations, to complete replacement, or even building a second bridge.
 
Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway more than a century ago, the bridge needs significant work, as most bridges do every 25 to 30 years, in the next budget cycle to maintain its structural integrity and safety, according to a staff report.
 
Such improvements could cost between $135 million and $270 million.
 
In the report, city managers say basic critical repairs could be done to keep the bridge operational for another 15 years, but this approach is not recommended.
 
Putting off major rehabilitation or reconstruction until later would likely cost the city as much or more in the long term as doing the work up front, staff analysis shows.
 
To keep the bridge usable for the next 25 years, staff say more extensive renewal work is needed.
 
At a minimum, this includes rehabilitating the roadway, reapplying protective coating on the steel, repairing concrete foundations, and replacing parts not repaired when the bridge was renewed in 1995.
 
The project would close the bridge, partially or completely, for one to two years.
 
The report also considers a couple of scenarios for further improvements that could be done jointly with the necessary structural renewal.
 
The first scenario features new shared-use bike and pedestrian paths on the top deck, widening the eastern lower sidewalk, and maintenance of the streetcar track with new barriers.
 
"The rehabilitation works combined with active mode enhancements on the upper deck would keep the bridge operational for up to 25 years until the next rehabilitation is required, while also providing immediate improvements to active mode connections between Downtown and Whyte Avenue," the report states.
 
The second scenario envisions some of the same enhancements but also removal of the streetcar on the top deck to allow a corridor for mass transit.
 
City staff didn't seriously consider this option because of cost and risk associated with strengthening the structure for LRT.
 
Keeping the High Level Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists only while building a new, separate bridge for vehicles and transit is another idea.
 
This could be built between the existing bridge and the LRT bridge to the west in a way that aims "to minimize visual competition with the High Level Bridge," the report states.
 
Proceeding with this option, however, could conflict with the path of the current streetcar.
 
Demolishing the bridge completely and replacing it with a new one for all modes of transportation is the final option.
 
City council's executive committee is expected to review the options on Wednesday.
 
Lauren Boothby.