The City of Calgary finalized a plan to spend $2 million to repair the Peace Bridge after 70% of the glass railing panels were vandalized in July. .“I heard from many Calgarians asking for a more practical and permanent solution,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek in a Thursday press release. .“Replacing the bottom glass panels with durable tensions cables will be more cost-effective, all while maintaining the bridge’s unique design.” .City of Calgary Public Spaces and Delivery said the initial project cost estimate for engineering and construction of the new steel tension cables is a little more than $1 million. It said the cost to replace the 72 broken glass panes is about the same. .The release said working collaboratively with Calatrava Architects and Engineers and a local architectural firm, steel tension cables will replace the glass railing panels to maintain the Peace Bridge’s original design and reduce costs for ongoing maintenance. .It said work is underway about the details of the repair scheduled to begin in spring 2023. .“We know the Peace Bridge is a popular destination for both Calgarians and visitors, so it was important for us to come up with a plan that allows for both an efficient repair but also respects the iconic design of the bridge,” said City of Calgary Bridge Maintenance Manager Charmaine Buhler. .“The change in materials from glass to steel allows us to ensure the Peace Bridge remains safe, durable, and easy to maintain in the years to come.” .Public access to the Peace Bridge remains open, and the summer months can see up to 9,000 daily visitors who use the pathways to cross the Bow River between Sunnyside and Eau Claire. .Gondek said over the past decade, the Peace Bridge has “become an iconic part of our skyline.” .“Seeing it heavily vandalized repeatedly has been disheartening and costly,” she said. .The total cost to build the Peace Bridge was about $24.5 million. .Construction costs totalled close to $18 million. Architectural and structural design and specialized engineering cost $3.9 million, and project administration and contingency was $2.6 million. .Funding for the bridge came from the city’s capital budget. It was meant to promote walking and cycling in high-density areas. .Calgary police charged city resident Brian Douglas Jensen for two separate vandalism incidents at the Peace Bridge in July. .READ MORE: Calgary police charge man for Peace Bridge vandalism.Police were called to the bridge over reports of a man shattering 70 glass windowpanes on it. .Jensen was charged with two counts each of mischief to property over $5,000, disturbing the peace, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breaches of a conditional sentence, and a bylaw infraction for unlawful disposal of waste in a park.
