The City of Calgary announced the opening of the new pedestrian bridge over 16th Avenue N.W. at 29th Street N.W. It is a key link that gives people walking and wheeling in the area a safe and accessible connection across the Trans-Canada Highway.
Located within a fast growing area of Calgary, the $15 million pedestrian bridge provides direct access to essential services, including Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary Cancer Centre, Max Orange BRT Line and the UXBorough residential and professional development. The bridge also directly connects to Calgary’s regional pathway network in the northwest.
“Established in 1963, University Heights became the home of many great academic, health care, engineering and business leaders of Calgary as the city developed, established and expanded the University of Calgary and the Foothills Medical Centre from its roots of development in 1966 and the practice of excellence and leadership 58 years later,” said Calgary City Councillor Terry Wong. “This new pedestrian bridge across 16th Avenue N.W. is symbolic of the quality of our leaders, residents, community and these institutions from the past to the present, and through the future.”
Designed to promote walkability and reduce traffic congestion, the pedestrian bridge is a key component in achieving the Stadium Area Redevelopment Plan.
“We are happy to see this project completed and open to the public. This bridge is a significant step towards a more connected and walkable Calgary, enhancing safety and convenience for all in the area,” said Jason Lin, Senior Structural Engineer in Public Spaces Delivery with The City of Calgary.
This project was delivered through a three-way funding agreement with The City of Calgary, Alberta Infrastructure and UXBorough Development.
“Alberta’s contribution of $3 million towards the delivery of the overpass demonstrates our commitment to investing in safe, accessible and convenient pedestrian access in communities across the province,” said Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure.
“Western Securities Limited has been active in this community for over 60 of our 92 years in business and we are thrilled to see the UXBorough Development connected to the Foothills medical campus in a way that will improve the safety of our tenants, patrons of our retail and service providers and the local communities, who I’m certain will all get great use out of this beautiful infrastructure,” says Mike Brescia, Chief Operating Officer for Western Securities Limited, the developer of the UXBorough Development. “Over the last several years, the UXBorough team has collaborated closely with our partners at The City of Calgary and its team of expert designers and contractors on the execution of this bridge project and we are delighted with the result.”
Graham Construction delivered the project on time and on budget. Key construction highlights include:
- Foundation and Structure: 26 concrete piles, each ranging from 13 to 18 metres deep, support the 50-metre steel bridge, which features precast concrete deck panels.
- Innovative Formwork: Custom-molded foam formwork was used to achieve the intricate curves of the ramps and column caps, ensuring both functionality and aesthetics.
Site Logistics: The construction was executed within a compact 5,600m² site footprint, adjacent to the bustling 16th Avenue and Foothills Medical Centre/ Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, showcasing the team’s ability to manage high-traffic environments effectively. - Steel Fabrication and Installation: The steel bridge was fabricated in Montana and transported to Calgary in three massive sections. The planning, coordination, and logistics involved in this process exemplified teamwork and precision. On-site, the sections were welded together and lifted into place with millimeter accuracy using two cranes.
- Safety and Accessibility Features: The project included 460m of galvanized pedestrian railing, equipped with custom lighting pods to illuminate the ramps and bridge, enhancing both safety and aesthetics.
Featured image: (City of Calgary)
