{"id":6779,"date":"2014-04-12T11:46:28","date_gmt":"2014-04-12T03:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=6779"},"modified":"2015-02-01T11:15:20","modified_gmt":"2015-02-01T03:15:20","slug":"sheep-river-bridge-work-protects-against-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2014\/04\/12\/sheep-river-bridge-work-protects-against-flooding\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheep River Bridge work protects against flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long-term flood mitigation projects at the Sheep River Bridge at Highway 22 will protect the important route from future floods.<\/p>\n

\"Flood<\/a>
Flood waters washed out 100 metres of the Sheep River crossing in June 2013.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As part of Budget 2014\u2019s proactive flood mitigation effort, the river banks at the Sheep River Bridge on Highway 22 are being fortified to make them bigger, stronger and wider. The $800,000 bridge and embankment work\u2014scheduled to wrap up by mid-May, weather permitting\u2014will direct future flood waters under the bridge without damaging the approach or the bridge itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur government moved quickly, first to get the road re-opened last June and now to help mitigate the impacts of any similar disasters in the future. We made a commitment to rebuild the province after the floods and that is what we are doing.\u201d Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation<\/p>\n

The Alberta Government has allocated $110 million for expanded mitigation work on transportation infrastructure damaged by the June flooding and to proactively protect other select roads and bridges against future flood damage. Of the $110 million, more than $86 million is included in Budget 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis journey may have begun last June but we continue to work alongside Alberta communities for the long-term benefit of residents. This project is another example of how we continue to rebuild together.\u201d Kyle Fawcett, Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction of Southwest Alberta<\/p>\n

The June 2013 flood washed out 100 metres of Highway 22 on the east end of the Sheep River crossing, as well as the earth supporting the bridge abutment. It took just two weeks for Alberta Transportation and its partners to repair and reopen the heavily damaged crossing.<\/p>\n

Additional Information<\/p>\n

An average of 8,000 to 9,000 local and industry vehicles cross the Sheep River every day on the Highway 22 Bridge, connecting thousands of Albertans to their homes, schools, businesses and the rest of the province.<\/p>\n

During construction:<\/p>\n