Calgary’s Cushing Bridge replacement moves ahead as city seeks public input

Calgary is moving forward with plans to replace the aging Cushing Bridge in southeast Calgary, with the city now asking residents to provide feedback on what they want to see in the future structure.

The bridge, which carries traffic along 17th Avenue S.E. and connects communities including Inglewood and Forest Lawn, is approaching the end of its expected service life. City officials say replacement is necessary as part of a broader effort to address aging bridge infrastructure across Calgary.

Residents have until September 14 to complete an online survey about the project. The feedback will help city officials develop design concepts and prepare more detailed cost estimates for the replacement.

A second phase of public consultation is expected to take place next year as plans for the bridge become more developed.

The Cushing Bridge is one of several Calgary bridges that require significant investment. A recent city assessment found that approximately two per cent of the city’s bridge assets are currently considered to be in poor condition, while several major structures have either reached or exceeded their expected service life.

The city estimates that about $440 million will be required over the next decade to repair or replace a number of vehicle bridges. The estimated cost of replacing the Cushing Bridge alone is approximately $35 million.

An additional $141 million is expected to be required for repairs and replacement of pedestrian bridges, bringing the broader bridge infrastructure needs identified in the assessment to more than half a billion dollars.

City officials have warned that some bridges present significant risks if rehabilitation or replacement work is delayed. Aging structures can require increasingly expensive repairs and may eventually face restrictions or closures if their condition deteriorates.

The Cushing Bridge has therefore become one of the projects receiving attention as Calgary works to manage its aging transportation infrastructure.

Ward 8 Coun. Nathaniel Schmidt said maintaining bridges is essential because they are among the most critical pieces of infrastructure residents depend on every day. He stressed that the city needs to recognize the condition of its existing assets and address problems before they become emergencies.

The issue is not limited to Calgary. Cities across Canada are facing similar challenges as bridges, roads, transit systems and other infrastructure built decades ago require major rehabilitation or replacement.

Infrastructure experts say municipalities have increasingly been forced to confront the consequences of years of infrastructure investment that did not always keep pace with the needs of growing populations and aging assets.

Matti Siemiatycki, a geography professor and director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto, described Calgary as an example of a broader national problem. He said communities across Canada are now trying to catch up on infrastructure work while facing enormous financial pressures.

The challenge is particularly significant because municipalities cannot address every aging bridge and infrastructure project at the same time. Officials must determine which structures require immediate attention and which can continue operating while rehabilitation plans are developed.

For Calgary residents, the Cushing Bridge replacement will also raise questions about traffic management, pedestrian access, cycling connections and the overall design of the new crossing.

The city’s current public consultation is intended to give residents an opportunity to explain how they use the existing bridge and identify improvements they would like incorporated into the replacement.

The project comes as Calgary continues to experience substantial growth, increasing pressure on transportation infrastructure throughout the city. Major roadways and bridges are expected to handle significant traffic volumes for decades, making long-term planning an important part of the replacement process.

The city will use feedback gathered during the current consultation to help shape the next stages of planning. Officials will then return to the public with more developed concepts during the next round of engagement.

Construction on the Cushing Bridge replacement is currently scheduled to begin in 2031.

While that timeline is still several years away, city officials are beginning the planning process now because replacing a major bridge requires extensive engineering, environmental assessment, design, procurement and construction preparation.

The project also illustrates the scale of Calgary’s broader infrastructure challenge. With hundreds of millions of dollars identified for bridge repairs and replacements alone, the city will have to balance aging infrastructure with other demands for public investment.

For residents living near the Cushing Bridge, however, the immediate focus is on ensuring the replacement meets the needs of the communities that depend on the crossing.

The public consultation provides an opportunity for Calgarians to influence the future design before major decisions are finalized. The city is encouraging residents who regularly drive, walk, cycle or otherwise use the bridge to participate and explain what works well today and what should be improved.

As Calgary prepares for another major infrastructure project, the Cushing Bridge replacement is expected to become an important part of the city’s long-term plan to maintain safe and reliable transportation connections across the city.

Courtesy: CBC