Latest design of new Prince's Island bridge unveiled
A fresh design has been unveiled for a new pedestrian bridge to replace the closed Jaipur Bridge, the busiest link between Eau Claire and Prince's Island Park.
The updated span will go before the Calgary Planning Commission on Thursday afternoon.
It's the second time a new bridge has been unveiled for the location in the past eight months. The previous incarnation was scrapped by council before it even got to the commission due to expense and concerns over esthetics.
Since that time, the city has permanently closed the Jaipur Bridge due to deterioration of the structure.
While the previous design featured thick metal supports arching up from the bridge deck and enough strength and width to support a fire truck, the latest design is more subdued, with the span blending into the horizon and supported by two sets of podiums emerging from the lagoon.
It was designed chiefly with cyclists and pedestrians in mind.
Replacement of the Jaipur Bridge, a busy crossing into the park, is part of a larger plaza project, which includes the newly built riverwalk through west Eau Claire, centred around the Peace Bridge.
The total budget for the revamp is $9.6 million.
