DIDSBURY - The roads leading to and from the temporary bridge over Rosebud Creek on Highway 582 have finally been repaired after the combination of heavy traffic, warmer temperatures and freezing and thawing led to several large potholes.
In October, the bridge was found to be damaged and was closed to all traffic to allow crews to make repairs. Crews put in a two-lane paved detour road with a temporary bridge.
On Friday and Saturday the temporary bridge was closed so that crews could make repairs to the temporary bridge.
Donald Saunders, bridge manager for Alberta Transportation, said the repairs went very well.
"We reconstructed the onsite detour road using recycled asphalt and concrete material," said Saunders. "It took about a day and a half, all of Friday and until 2 p.m. on Saturday."
Saunders said they expect some settlement and small repairs with the reconstructed detour road.
"With this minor maintenance it should last until all the frost is out of the ground and we can pave it once asphalt plants are operating in the area," he said. "With the late spring we anticipate paving will be possible around late May or early June."
Construction work was done by local company Rubydale Asphalt, while traffic control was done by Alberta Highway Services.
The replacement bridge is still on track to be completed in the late summer or early fall, said Saunders.
