Since 1911, the MacDonald Bridge has been a fixture over southern Alberta's Elbow River. In May of 2006, this through truss steel bridge went through its annual inspection by The City of Calgary, Roads, and the decision was made that it was time to rehabilitate this heritage river crossing. Due to the entire bridge being coated in a lead-containing paint, Roads decided to take the rehabilitation process a few steps further. The Elbow River, originating in the Canadian Rockies, has very stringent environmental requirements. The MacDonald Bridge, destined to undergo abrasive blasting and repainting, had the potential to release paint particulates containing lead, a highly toxic metal, into the air, land, and water. By using a system of complete containment during the project, Roads was able to completely avoid any negative environmental impacts for the duration of the project. The process and the methods used to maintain critical transportation across the bridge while protecting the environment have set a new standard for The City of Calgary and for southern Alberta. This project was nominated for the 2006 TAC Environmental Achievement Award. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E216511.
Samenvatting