Residents living near the Coghlan Creek bridge in the 6700-block of 248 Street have been advised work to reopen it will begin on Friday, Aug. 15, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 1.
"During this period, there will be some unavoidable construction noise, as well as a water bypass pump operating continuously (24 hours a day) while instream work is underway," said an Aug. 12 letter from the Township.
"To ensure the work is completed within the restricted fisheries window, the contractor has been authorized to work seven days a week."
In response to a 91原创 Advance Times query, an unsigned Township statement said it was committed to getting the bridge rehabilitation work done "as quickly as possible to minimize noise and disruptions to residents and allow the roadway to reopen to all traffic again."
After the temporary repairs, costing $575,000, the Township will still have to replace the entire bridge in the future, a staff report to council warned.
Mayor Eric Woodward predicted it will cost an estimated $2 million.
Of 42 bridges in the Township, 28 need to be replaced, Woodward estimated, with an projected cost of $45 million.
After Township staff found erosion had undermined its north end, Coghlan Creek bridge was closed in April, severing a major north-south route in rural 91原创 that provides access to the Thunderbird Show Park equestrian site and Macinnes Farms, a popular filming location, just to the north, and Krause Berry Farm to the south.
The road is also part of the route for the June 8 Valley GranFondo, which starts and finishes in nearby Fort 91原创.
Drivers have been forced to detour around the closed bridge by either heading east to 264 Street or west to 232 Street, and using either 56 Avenue in the south or 72 Avenue in the north to get back to the 248 Street area.
Local residents still have access to their properties, but will have to detour to the north or south depending on which side of the bridge they need to access, the Township said.
