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“It’s sad because it’s become such an iconic structure. It’s really hard to understand the mindset.”

One reason for that frustration is the difficulty in identifying vandals who remain out of the reach of surveillance cameras when carrying out their dubious handiwork, said MacFarlane.

Those damaging the bridge, he said, often hurl large stones at its glass from a Bow River gravel bar formed by the 2013 flood.

Images posted on the Crimestoppers website depict two culprits smashing handrail panes with a hammer earlier this fall.

But MacFarlane said he’s not aware of anyone being arrested for such crimes.

“We are looking at corporate security to enhance security,” he said.

A year ago, the city said it was upgrading the surveillance camera system but darkness remains an effective cloak for vandals, say city officials.

At the same time, the city spent $700,000 to install 300 LED light fixtures on a bridge whose overall cost and procurement process became a lightning rod for critics.

MacFarlane said efforts have been made to strengthen the heat-treated premium safety glass but with little success.

“We’ve explored coatings for protection but it met with only marginal improvements,” he said.

Ward 7 Coun. Druh Farrell recalled crossing the undamaged bridge and then noticing a shattered pane on a return trip shortly after.

“I called up our security people and asked them to look at the camera footage,” she said. “We need to do a better job of surveillance.”

She also said repairs to the bridge have often happened too slowly.

But the cost of maintaining the span is one well worth paying to ensure a more attractive, livable city, said Farrell.

“It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating, but it shouldn’t prevent us from building a beautiful city,” she said.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

on Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn