Motorists will notice some changes on Whoop-Up Drive as of Wednesday afternoon.
The crossing connecting the east and west sides of Lethbridge has been a hot topic of discussion this summer, amid construction, an incident in early August that caused damage to the bridge, and traffic delays.
READ MORE: Whoop-Up Drive bridge being assessed after incident
On Wednesday, August 20, the City of Lethbridge is implementing ‘peak hour’ lane changes on Whoop-Up Drive, following safety inspections.
READ MORE: Experts reveal Whoop-Up Drive remains safe after Aug. 6 incident
From 2 to 8 p.m., one eastbound lane will be open for westbound traffic across the bridge, allowing for more westbound vehicles to cross during the busier afternoon and evening commute times.
Between 2 and 8 p.m., eastbound traffic on the bridge will be reduced to one lane.
The lane changes will be done manually, so drivers are asked to watch for an increase in workers on the bridge as they move orange pylons into place.
Jason Drenth, acting director of infrastructure says the main goal is to reduce congestion along Whoop-Up Drive and pull some traffic away from Highway 3.
“From 2 to 8 p.m., during weekday time frames, we’re going to allocate two lanes moving in the westbound direction [and] one lane going east,” Drenth states. “After that time for the morning rush, we’ll have two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane.”
ZIPPER MERGE
The zipper merges on westbound Whoop-Up Drive will stay in place during non-peak hours (outside the 2 to 8 p.m. window).
Drivers can watch this video as a reminder on how to properly navigate zipper merges.
Drenth notes that the peak hour lane changes will stay in effect until two-way lanes open, in both directions, in September.
“During this process safety is the top priority,” he adds, encouraging drivers to maintain safe speeds and watch for workers.
Drenth says signage will be in place to help drivers navigate the changes.
“If you’re coming off 6 Avenue South, you will be directed into one single lane. If you’re coming off the overpass off of Scenic Drive, you will be in one lane,” he remarks.
“Once you’re in your lane, you’re in your lane.”
HEAVY TRUCKS
Officials note that heavy trucks, excluding regular pickups, are still barred from travelling westbound on Whoop-Up Drive until further notice.
READ MORE: City announces temporary restriction for heavy load trucks on westbound Whoop-Up
24 HOURS A DAY
The City says many questions, comments and concerns have come in regarding “a lack of workers on-site 24 hours a day”.
Drenth explains that part of the repair process is curing time.
He says high-strength concrete, such as the concrete used for bridges, needs to sit undisturbed, in some cases for days, to properly harden.
If that process is rushed, microcracks can form, and the structure can be weakened, which compromises its durability.
“During that time, when we are curing those materials, staff aren’t on-site,” Drenth says, addressing an assumption that work is not being done at certain times, when it fact the curing process is happening quietly.
“The reason why we have to do it and follow proper processes is to make sure the material hardens properly for the future strength and integrity of the bridge, so we’re not compromising the future integrity of the bridge,” he adds.
Environmental conditions like humidity and the daily temperature need to be monitored as well to prevent shrinkage or other issues.
BRIDGE INCIDENT
Drenth says the damage that occurred on the bridge in early August “is not getting worse”.
On Wednesday, August 6, a flatbed trailer struck the underside of the bridge, damaging four of its six girders.
“We’ve stabilized the bridge. We have put in supports on the bridge to make sure it isn’t getting any worse. We’re going to start doing restoration work shortly once we have the contract in place to make those necessary repairs,” Drenth says.
He adds the peak hour lane changes were planned before the bridge incident, but the City had to ensure an assessment of the bridge was done before any changes were made.
“We know this traffic congestion has been extremely frustrating. I want to assure our residents that every action that is taken has safety as our number one priority,” adds Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen.
“We’re extremely hopeful that these measures will help alleviate congestion on the traffic flow and will help us get through the situation that we’re in.”
The mayor thanks residents for their suggestions and maintains that the City continues to work with experts before implementing any changes.
Motorists can also plan their travels by checking out the online traffic cameras.
