This project won the CISC Alberta Region Award in the Structural Category for 2001. Having to add an additional traffic lane to the eastbound structure of the Oldman River Bridge, the City of Lethbridge opted to convert the wide sidewalk on the existing structure and to build a dedicated pedestrian/cyclist bridge. The new bridge would be a multi-span structure with curved vertical and horizontal alignments, 280 m long by 3 m wide, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a 360 degree panoramic view of the river valley.
Following a teasibility and cost study, the steel trapezoidal composite box dirder was found to be the most cost effective solution over any other alternative. Being reasonably light in weight, it minimized loads on the substructure elements; did not require falsework in the river and thus was the fastest to erect. Structurally efficient, it was also the easiest to fabricate. The City and the Design/Build team also considered this steel solution to be the most aesthetically pleasing.
Galvanized HSS sections were used to create the attactive railing system that allowed transparency through the bridge for the spectacular views along the Oldman River and towards the High Level CP Bridge, while being able to withstand the severe weathering that can be common in Southern Alberta. |