PATIENCE, PLEASE
Groat Road delays start Monday
Monday morning commuters travelling on Groat Road will require some patience.
Beginning April 23 at 9 a.m., crews will be setting up equipment for the reconstruction of three Groat Road bridges. Traffic on Groat Road from 87 Avenue to Victoria Park Road will be cut to one lane in each direction at that time.
“The morning of April 23, you will have the east lane open and most of the west lane,” Sam El Mohtar, director of transportation infrastructure, told a Friday news conference. “Traffic patterns will be alternating because crews will start setting up for construction.”
The $48-million project is expected to last until October 2020.
It will see reconstruction and upgrade of the Groat Road Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River, the Groat Road Bridge over Victoria Park Road and the Mayfair Bridge, which goes over Groat Road near Emily Murphy Park south of the river.
“The bridge is actually two sections,” Mohtar said. “So the west side will be under demolition and reconstruction while traffic is using the east side. Once it is ready, then traffic will use the other side.”
Also upgraded will be the deck on the main bridge and sidewalks in the surrounding areas. Trails around Emily Murphy Park will be widened. Pedestrian access will be maintained, but the sidewalk on the bridge crossing the river will be narrower than usual, and cyclists will be asked to dismount when crossing the bridge.
With the construction and single lanes also comes a change in speed limits.
The posted speed in the construction zone will be reduced to 50 km/ h.
Mohtar stressed that commuters should pay close attention to traffic warnings and signs along the roadway because they will change periodically.
He said drivers need to practise patience and be respectful of others, including pedestrians, cyclists and construction workers.
Construction will be stopped during the ITU World Triathlon Series in July and the Heritage Festival in August, he said.
“We’re working and co-ordinating with the civic events office and the city,” he said.
The city has learned from past delays during such large projects, he said, and is hoping to finish this project on time and within budget.
“Everybody’s reputation is at stake,” Mohtar said.
About 50 years will be added to the lifespan of the bridge with this project, he said. The last rehabilitation happened in 1989-1990.
Mohtar had some advice for commuters.
“Pre-plan your trips,” he said. “Use other routes.”
The west side will be under demolition and reconstruction while traffic is using the east side. Once it is ready, then traffic will use the other side.