Calgary

New bridge to Inglewood fully opens … finally

The Ninth Avenue S.E. bridge connecting the East Village with Inglewood is fully open after a delay of almost two years.

Estimated open of Fall 2020 delayed by pandemic, subcontractor issues

The 9th Avenue S.E. bridge, which is now fully open after a two-year delay, facing west on Tuesday morning. (Mike Symington/CBC)

The Ninth Avenue S.E. bridge connecting Calgary's East Village with Inglewood is fully open after a delay of almost two years.

The old bridge — crossing the Elbow River just south of the Bow River — was taken apart in September 2019.

At that time, the city estimated the replacement would be open in the Fall of 2020.

The bridge connecting Inglewood and the East Village is now fully open after a two-year delay due to supply and subcontractor issues. (Mike Symington/CBC)

The delay was due to a subcontractor going out of business and the need to find a new steel fabricator.

About 20,000 drivers use the bridge daily. The new bridge is made from about 500 tonnes of steel and 26,000 bolts, the city said in a release.

With files from Mike Symington