WATCH ABOVE: Michel Boyer explains live during the Noon News Hour how drivers will be affected by the closure.

EDMONTON — Groat Road will be closed for much of the upcoming weekend so crews can prepare to remove one of the girders that buckled on the 102 Avenue Bridge.

Groat Road between 107 Avenue and River Valley Road will be closed from 6 a.m. on Saturday until 6 a.m. on Monday, so crews can do necessary welding.

On March 16, four of the bridge project girders buckled during installation. One of the girders, called Girder #5, was of most concern. It has to be removed in order for engineers to get a closer look at the damage.

“It’s become clear that Girder #5 has to be taken off the bridge and sent back to the shop, to either be repaired or replaced,” said Byron Nicholson, director of special projects, Roads and Construction, City of Edmonton. Tweet This

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The City said the rest of the girders can stay in place on the bridge while being assessed. Before Girder #5 can be removed, additional bracing must be welded in. The upcoming closure of Groat Road will allow crews to do that.

“The contractor will be using that time to weld extra bracing onto the structure, and all in preparation of removing Girder #5, as well as continuing to analyzing Girders #4 and #6,” said Nicholson. “We’re still working towards coming up with a solution for those, to see if they can remain or if they have to be taken down.”

The City said a date to remove Girder #5 has not yet been released, but another closure will take place when it is extracted.

Parking in downtown will be affected during the closure. Parking will be banned along the east side of 116 Street between 100 Avenue and Jasper Avenue, and there will be no access to the multi-use path adjacent to Groat Road.

After the girders buckled on March 16, Groat Road was closed for three weeks.

Also this weekend, the LRT route will be shut down for one day for signal testing for the Metro Line.

The city says ETS buses will replace all LRT service on Sunday, April 19.

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