Whoop-Up Drive was closed Wednesday after a piece of heavy equipment being transported on a flatbed trailer struck the underside of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge.
According to the City of Lethbridge, traffic access to the bridge was immediately closed during an initial safety assessment before partially reopening later in the morning Aug. 6.
Engineering crews placed support pillars under the bridge while the truck, flatbed trailer and equipment were safely removed Wednesday evening.
These pillars remain in place currently, while crews continue to assess the damage and determine the next steps.
Director of Infrastructure Services Joel Sanchez says it’s fortunate no one was injured in the incident and engineering crews from Volker Stevin and AECOM were already working on the bridge and were on-site to immediately begin assessing the damage. “This work is ongoing, and we do not yet have specific details on the long-term status of any repairs needed, the potential costs involved or exact timelines.”
With continued safety for both workers and motorists as the top priority, beginning today there will be further adjustments to traffic flow:
- The loop from northbound Scenic Drive onto Whoop-Up Drive will be re-opened
- Westbound 6 Avenue into Whoop-Up Drive will be re-opened
- There will be zipper-merge locations for westbound traffic, as motorists from 6 Avenue and from the northbound Scenic Drive offramp will merge
- That traffic will merge with traffic from the southbound Scenic Drive offramp
- To increase capacity and reduce delays, the City is also adjusting eastbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes by moving the inside lane closure closer to the bridge
- Both eastbound and westbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes will be fully opened after the bridge decks in each direction
Right now, Sanchez notes, the City is focusing on the damage caused by the incident. “The lane currently open is going to be checked on a daily basis to make sure there’s no other issues.”
Having an assessment done quickly on Wednesday allowed the City to reopen the lanes on Whoop-Up Drive. “The lanes that are closed are not a priority right now. We are focused on the lanes that are open to make sure they are safe for motorists and for the people doing the work on the bridge.”
Lethbridge Police Service is also investigating the incident.
READ MORE: LPS lay charges in Whoop-Up bridge incident
