The city has kicked off construction on the Ray Gibbon Drive southbound bridge as the 10-year project to twin the roadway continues.
Work on the bridge began Jan. 24, and is expected to conclude mid-June. The city will then resume work on the roadway. The current phase of the twinning — which encompasses the corridor from north of LeClair Way to north of McKenney Avenue — has a projected completion date of October 2022.
Work on the bridge includes the construction of the southbound bridge abutments and deck, as well as work on the trail below. In an email received Tuesday afternoon, city spokeperson Cory Sinclair said the south side trail under the bridge will be closed for some portions of construction, impacting pedestrian movement under the bridge. The city will post updates well in advance of these closures, Sinclair said.
For the most part, construction activity will not interfere or cause vehicle disruption, Sinclair said.
"However, during certain portions of work there will be equipment operating within the existing travel lanes and a result may be that north and southbound traffic on Ray Gibbon Drive is managed through a single lane via flag person or other traffic-control measures," Sinclair said in the email.
Sinclair said speed reductions near the work zone might also occur during construction.
"The city asks that drivers please adhere to all posted signage and exercise caution while driving past the work zone," Sinclair said in the email.
When phase two of the twinning project began earlier in July, Tony Druett, a board member of the Big Lake Environment Support Society (BLESS), spoke in an interview about concerns over flooding on the portion of the Red Willow Trail directly below the Ray Gibbon Drive bridge.
In an email, Sinclair said the trail on the south side of the underpass will be raised to the provincial minimums, shortening the length of time it may be under water within the floodplain of the Sturgeon River.
"We have worked with the province directly to raise the trail to a maximum level allowable and all approvals are in place with the province," Sinclair said in the email, adding that the city will also install a metal handrail to connect to the existing wood fence along the river to protect trail users, and improve drainage from the bridge and crossfalls to the trail.
The total twinning project is composed of four phases. The first phase — which focused on the section of road from the south city limit to north of LeClair Way, was completed in 2020.
Phase three is planned for 2026, and will include work north of McKenney Avenue to north of Giroux Road. The final fourth phase is planned for 2029, with work north of Giroux Road to Fowler Way.
