Cushing Bridge in Inglewood facing $70M replacement by 2030 as city seeks more transit funding
The 1956-built span across the Bow River is approaching the end of its life. Replacement could begin in 2030 pending funding, with construction lasting several years.
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Cushing Bridge, the 1956-built span connecting Inglewood to neighborhoods east of Deerfoot Trail, is approaching the end of its useful life and faces a $70 million replacement within the next decade.
The bridge crosses the Bow River on 17 Avenue SE between Deerfoot Trail and 19 Street SE, just before the road converges into Blackfoot Trail. It was widened to four lanes in 1965. A 2011 rehabilitation supplemented its pin-and-hangar assembly with steel plates, but the city's functional planning study now identifies it as a candidate for full replacement rather than continued repair.
"It's one we've identified as a good candidate for looking at replacement," said Evan Fer, the city's bridge engineering lead. "There are cases where you're past the point of no return with rehabbing, where the cost of it becomes too much and it makes more sense from a lifecycle basis to do a full replacement."
Pending funding availability, replacement could begin in 2030 after preliminary engineering and detailed design work are completed. Construction will likely last several years. The city's functional planning study will develop replacement concepts, assess lane configuration and potential widening options, and examine utility line re-routing and pathway connectivity.
Cushing Bridge is one of four major vehicle bridge projects in the city's 10-year capital plan, alongside 15th Street NE/Nose Creek Bridge renewal, MacDonald Bridge replacement over the Elbow River on 12th Avenue, and Mountain View Road Creek Crossing/Symons Valley Road realignment and replacement. The four projects carry a combined cost of $370 million.
The city is asking council to support a $22 million annual operating budget to maintain and repair its vehicle bridge inventory — a 10 per cent increase from the 2023-26 budget cycle. The city's bridges carry a $5 billion replacement value. Fer noted that once deterioration accelerates, repair costs spike. "That's why we try to be really proactive with our program and fix bridges as early as we can because once deterioration starts, you want to address it as quickly as you can to make sure it doesn't continue."
Public consultation is open. A second round of consultation is scheduled for early next year.
The facts
When was Cushing Bridge built?
Cushing Bridge was built in 1956.
How much will it cost to replace Cushing Bridge?
The replacement is estimated to cost $70 million.
When could replacement of Cushing Bridge begin?
Replacement could begin in 2030, pending funding availability, after preliminary engineering and detailed design work are completed.
How many major vehicle bridge projects are in the city's 10-year capital plan?
There are four major vehicle bridge projects: Cushing Bridge, 15th Street NE/Nose Creek Bridge renewal, MacDonald Bridge replacement over the Elbow River on 12th Avenue, and Mountain View Road Creek Crossing/Symons Valley Road realignment and replacement, with a combined cost of $370 million.
