After two years of work and a lengthy delay in 2021, the County of Grande Prairie has opened the replacement for the Rio Grande Bridge. A ribbon cutting was held with officials Sunday.Â
“On behalf of County Council, I want to thank residents for their patience during the construction process,” says Deputy Reeve Peter Harris. “The replacement bridge provides a significant improvement to transportation infrastructure that will serve the area well for many years to come.”
Local farmer Wayne Alde made the first cross of the bridge in his tractor, a nod to the several farmers who work the land on both sides of the bridge. It is on Range Road 121, south of Township Road 704.
With the new bridge open and operational, that means work will start on tearing down the old bridge. This work is scheduled to wrap up in March of 2023.
The project was originally approved in 2020 with a budget of $6.97 million. It’s now valued at $9.25 million.