'Important part of the St. Vital community': The repairs coming to Elm Park Bridge
An iconic Winnipeg landmark is getting a makeover.
The latest multi-year city budget has allocated $2,088,000 for repairs to the 109-year-old Elm Park Bridge, which connects the St. Vital and Fort Rouge neighbourhoods over the Red River.
St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes said he is excited to get the project on the books, even though it may still be a few years away. "Clean up the steel trusses … do some work with painting and coating, a lot of rust out here," said Mayes.
He said the bridge – which first opened in 1914 - has become an important part of St. Vital culture. "It was certainly threatened when it closed to vehicle traffic in the sixties," said Mayes. "I think the plan was to take it out - but the residents fought to keep it."
The project will include structural steel repairs, surface preparation, and recoating of the existing structural steel trusses. "Some of that needs to be cleaned up, replaced, modernized. And we've never really done the coating, done the painting that we need to do," said Mayes.
He added the recoating of the trusses will also improve the aesthetics of the bridge, making it look much nicer.
Mayes said the bridge has become hugely important to the community. "The people in my ward who use the bus rapid transit come across here and go over to Jubilee station," he said. "Or if you running the half marathon, you run across here."
He said the bridge has also been a big part of his life, "I ran across this (while) training in high school. I still run across this decades later, so it’s a pretty important part of the St. Vital community."
Mayes said some bridge repairs took place before he took over as councillor ion 2011. The concrete piers and bridge deck were repaired, and new bicycle height railings added.
He said the bridge's long life speaks to the strength of the community. "It's amazing," said Mayes. "That it's still going is a testament to the people around here, and I want to keep it going."
He hopes to be running over the Elm Park Bridge for years to come. "Maybe if I make it to age 103, I'm here for the 150th anniversary, hopefully I can make that."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.