Mission Bridge in SW Calgary fully closed to traffic for months

Motorists who drive in and out of downtown Calgary from the city’s south now have one less option through the winter months.

The 108-year-old Mission Bridge along 4 Street SW was fully closed to traffic on Friday to make way for crews to finish “necessary rehabilitation work.”

The closure is expected to last about six months. It’s part of $18 million in work that began in May and is expected last until late 2025.

Pedestrians and cyclists will continue to be able to use the bridge during the closure. The city is encouraging cyclists to dismount when crossing the bridge while the work is ongoing.

The city is also urging drivers to use trip planning apps for the latest information and pay attention to detour and closure signs in the area.

Mission Bridge detour map

The repairs to the bridge will include adding multi-use pathways to improve pedestrian and cyclist accessibility.

“We have progressed well over the summer on the repairs required to the bridge’s exterior and are ready to start work on its interior,” reads a statement from Max Lacroix, a project manager and senior structural engineer with the city.

“Understandably, the closure is a challenging period for people living, working or playing in the Mission District, however, this allows us to best manage the bridge’s repairs so it can last for another 35 years until requiring any further intervention.”

The city says the full closure of the bridge will help the construction finish a year earlier and will also reduce environmental risks.

The Mission Bridge is expected to reopen to motorists in the spring of 2025, though lane restrictions will continue for several months. The construction is expected to be completed entirely by the end of 2025.

The bridge was first built in 1915 and last saw upgrades in 1987. The city says the rehabilitation project is necessary to extend its lifespan for several more decades.