Damage to Whoop-Up Drive bridge worse than first thought: City of Lethbridge

The City of Lethbridge says damage to the Whoop-Up Drive bridge is worse than first thought as rehabilitation work continues.

Damage to the Whoop-Up Drive bridge is worse than first thought.

Several of the bridge’s girders were damaged after a semi-truck hauling a large piece of construction machinery hit it and got stuck early last month.

On Tuesday, the City of Lethbridge said the most-damaged girder is cracked, bent and caved in.

Supports are in place to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

The city is now working to revise its repair plans and ensure it can finish up quickly and in a way that will support the long-term integrity of the bridge.

Peak-hour lane changes will remain in place as bridge rehabilitation work continues.

“Whoop-Up Drive is still safe to be on,” said Jason Drenth, City of Lethbridge acting director of infrastructure services.

“We had the inspectors look at it, and with the additional actions that we’ve taken—reducing the speed limit, reducing the lanes and supports—it’s safe to us.”

The city anticipates the bridge rehabilitation project will be complete by early October.

The bridge rehabilitation project started prior to the incident in early August.

On Aug. 6, a semi-truck hauling a scraper was driving to a construction site on the west side when it took a wrong turn into Indian Battle Park before striking the bridge and becoming stuck, according to Lethbridge police.

It took several hours for crews and engineers to remove the semi-truck, with metal supports being installed to ensure the bridge’s stability.

It was determined four of six girders under the bridge were damaged in the incident.

Police have charged the driver of the semi-truck with failing to ascertain sufficient space for movement.

With files by Damien Wood and Karsen Marczuk