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“It’s unfortunate, but fans are going to have to deal with it,” said Stampeders president Gord Norrie. “Either take alternate routes, transit, or come early and deal with the (traffic).”

“It’ll make it easier for everyone,” he added.

Photo by Christina Ryan / Calgary Herald

Heavy lifting

Crews will knock down about 500 tonnes of concrete and rebar over the weekend. Flanders Bridge, constructed in 1991, was cast in a single plate, meaning the entire bridge is one piece of concrete, Stevens explained.

“This one has to be demolished all at once,” she said.

Four excavators will be on site chipping away at the bridge from different angles, letting the concrete fall and then carrying it away for recycling in 40 to 50 truckloads. The metal parts of the bridge alone will fill six to eight large recycling bins.

Photo by Christina Ryan / Calgary

It’s going to get loud

Work will begin Friday night and not stop until Tuesday morning, Stevens said. And with four excavators working to pull down the concrete, it’s going be noisy — even at night.

“To get the full demolition done over the three days, it needs to be 24/7,” she said. “We’re doing everything we can to mitigate, but it is going to be loud for a little while.”

Photo by Christina Ryan / Calgary Herald

Easing future congestion

Crowchild Trail will reopen once the bridge demolition is complete. For the next 16 months, motorists can expect lane closures and congestion in the surrounding areas as crews work to construct a new interchange. Stevens said there will be detours in place for the drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who normally use Flanders Avenue.

estark@calgaryherald.com

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