Terwillegar Park Footbridge

[Daveography]

First 'stress-ribbon' bridge will trace a graceful line through Edmonton's river valley

Rob Marchak sees a line of poetry in the new stress-ribbon bridge now under construction in Terwillegar Park.

With a concrete bridge deck just 40 centimetres thick, it will cut a pencil thin line from one bank to the other, draping like an old-fashioned rope suspension bridge between two pillars in the water, said Marchak, the city’s project lead for all the River Valley Alliance projects.

It’s the first time the technology — now increasingly popular in Europe — has come to Edmonton, and only the second time in Canada.

“It ends up giving us this really beautiful structure that just sits there,” said Marchak. “It’s minimalist.”

Full Story

My photo, taken about a month ago:

Terwilligar Park Footbridge (Under Construction) by Dave Sutherland, on Flickr

 

[Daveography]

New footbridge closer to opening
The last of 86 deck panels were put in place Friday on the new Terwillegar Park Footbridge in southwest Edmonton. When it opens in the Fall, the footbridge will be the second longest of its type in the world. The longest is in Escondido, California.

The city’s Director of Strategic Project’s Rob Marchak explains what make this “stressed ribbon” footbridge so special. “The decking is only about 46 centimeters thick. Unique because it has a really minimal footprint which is really something desirable in the river valley. It’s a unique design that will create a lower impact in the river valley – both in terms of construction impacts and in terms of the visual impact of the final design.”

Full Story (iNews880)

Images source: City of Edmonton

 

[Daveography]

City of Edmonton ‏@CityofEdmonton 2 hours ago
News: Terwillegar Park Footbridge construction achieves milestone http://ow.ly/4mKneS #yegparks

 

[archited]

Who's design?

 

[chrisvazquez7]

I couldn't readily find the architect online, but here are some interesting facts about the bridge:

- The walking surface will be made up of 86 precast deck panels
- Each panel is approximately 2.64 metres long and 5.3 metres wide
- The unique design means the bridge deck will be only 46.5 cm thick
- The bridge is 262 metres long, which is the slightly over the length of two football fields
- Pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge will feel a slight dip between the two piers and the abutments
- The panels are held up by 162 individual steel cables that are anchored to a concrete abutment on each river bank and supported in the river by two piers. The installation of each panel is done by a crane lifting each piece onto the steel cables and using a high line to slide it into position. Once all the deck panels are installed, an additional 162 cables will be installed to tighten or ‘stress’ the bridge deck
- The stressed ribbon design is relatively rare and there are only about 60 bridges worldwide. Edmonton is one of only two Canadian cities that have constructed this unique type of bridge. Fish Creek Park in Calgary is the other city
- The Terwillegar Park Footbridge will be the second longest stressed ribbon footbridge in the world. The longest is in Escondido, California and is 300 metres

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/projects_redevelopment/about-terwillegar-footbridge.aspx

 

[Daveography]

Terwillegar Park Footbridge and West End Trails grand opening
October 20, 2016

Media are invited to join the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Lorne Dach, MLA for Edmonton-McClung, Michael Walters, Edmonton City Councillor, and Brent Collingwood, Chair of the River Valley Alliance Advisory Committee, for the grand opening of the Terwillegar Park Footbridge and the West End Trails. These projects are the first of the River Valley Alliance capital initiatives to be completed in Edmonton.

Date: October 21, 2016
Time: 9 a.m.(Please note that it is a 5 minute walk from the Terwillegar Park
parking lot to the bridge site. City of Edmonton staff will be on location to direct you to the site).
Location: Terwillegar Park. The event will be held at the south side of the footbridge. Parking is available in the Terwillegar Park parking lot. (Map)

For more information:
edmonton.ca/rivervalleyprojects

Media contact:
Cheryl Mitchell
Communications Advisor
780-944-0511

http://www.mailoutinteractive.com/Industry/View.aspx?id=853966&q=1101985329&qz=d3b669

 

[Daveography]

City of Edmonton ‏@CityofEdmonton 9 minutes ago
And it’s open! Terwillegar Park is now connected to Oleskiw River Valley Park. #yegparks http://ow.ly/A4rL305ppvI

EMBA ‏@EtownMtnBA 3 minutes ago
Terwillegar Footbridge open now!

EMBA ‏@EtownMtnBA 13 minutes ago
First official cyclist on @CityofEdmonton Terwillegar footbridge

 

[Daveography]

'Fantastic' Terwillegar footbridge opens in river valley
A new bridge across the North Saskatchewan River is now open to pedestrians and cyclists in south Edmonton.

The City of Edmonton held a grand opening for the Terwillegar Park Footbridge and West End Trails on Friday morning.

Construction on the $24.5-million bridge began in August 2014. Work on the trails began in July 2015.

The new 262-metre footbridge links the Terwillegar neighbourhood to Oleskiw River Valley Park. The trail network snakes through five kilometres of forest, linking with the recently completed Fort Edmonton Footbridge.

Full Story (CBC Edmonton)

Southwest Edmonton footbridge connecting river valley now open
The Terwillegar Park Footbridge is open for pedestrians and cyclists.

The City of Edmonton held a grand opening for the footbridge and West End Trails Friday morning.

“The Terwillegar Park Bridge and West End Trails will help create more opportunities for families to get outside and enjoy Edmonton’s parks and trails from both sides of the North Saskatchewan River,” Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said.

Construction of the $24.5-million footbridge began in August 2014 and construction of the $3.5-million trails began in July 2015. The complete trail connections and the footbridge opened for the public Friday, although sections of the trail opened earlier this year.

Full Story (Global Edmonton)

 

[IanO]

River valley park named for Edmonton’s first female mayor​

November 25, 2021 Former Edmonton mayor Jan Reimer is being recognized for her service to the community with a park named in her honour. The park will be part of existing river valley parkland close to the Oleskiw neighbourhood located near the Terwillegar Park footbridge. The park’s name was proposed to the Naming Committee to recognize former Mayor Reimer’s many achievements in her service to the community, particularly her work to preserve the River Valley. “A lifelong Edmontonian, during her public service career she dedicated herself to advancing important civic initiatives,” said Erin McDonald, Chair of the Naming Committee. “Through the lens of history, it is clear that Jan Reimer had a significant impact on Edmonton. For her contributions, the Edmonton Naming Committee is proud to support this naming initiative.” Reimer left municipal politics in 1995 and has been involved in a number of local and provincial issues, most notably for her work on reducing family violence. As the Executive Director of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, Reimer speaks regularly about curbing family violence and lobbies for more support for abused women and children. “An honour like this is long overdue. Jan’s entire career has been built around giving voice and support to folks in our community who’ve often been overlooked or sidelined. From her work at City Hall to the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, she always puts people first,” said YWCA Edmonton CEO Katherine O’Neill. “Jan has also never been afraid to go first, whether it was when she was elected Edmonton’s first -- and still only – female mayor or when she championed environmental policies long before it became mainstream. Jan’s bravery has inspired many.” Jan Reimer was born in Edmonton in 1952. She won her first election as Alderman for the former Ward one in 1980. She was reelected again in 1983 and 1986 (Alderman terms at that time were three years) and won the office of Mayor in 1988 replacing Laurence Decore. Reimer advocated for changing the title of Alderman to Councillor and championed improvements to the City’s waste management system including recyclables and eco stations. She worked on initiatives to improve the water quality of the North Saskatchewan River and in preserving the river valley and extending the trail system. She helped establish the Edmonton Arts Council and the Aboriginal Advisory Committee. Reimer was recognized as an Edmontonian of the Century in 2004 and has received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award and the Governor General’s Award.​

For more information: edmonton.ca/naming Jan Reimer Park location map Media contact: Mary-Ann Thurber Communications Advisor Communications and Engagement 780-619-3254​