The Calgary Peace Bridge, one of the city's most photographed places, has attracted a lot of vandalism since its opening in 2012.
Following recent events, the city is now continuing its efforts to address the issue in the hope of ordering another 20 replacement glass panels for the iconic span.
According to the recently released bid documents, the city is seeking to purchase 20 curved railing glass panels for Heping Bridge.
The city said on Tuesday that it was also a supplement, in addition to the 13 glass replacement panels previously purchased for the bridge.
Calgary police are investigating a recent case of vandalism that caused damage to the glass handrail panel at the north end of the bridge, but damage and damage have been problematic since the bridge was opened.
The city has seen 15 glass railing panels broken, and since the bridge was opened, another 10 panels have been broken in the elevated structure of the bridge.
The city said it ordered multiple panels at a time to save money and ensure that additional panels are readily available when damage is found.
"We actually do night patrols on the bridge.
It is through security patrols ,(recent)
The damaged panel has been identified, "said Charmaine Buhler, bridge maintenance manager.
Buller said more cameras were installed in the city last fall to try to capture more activity under the bridge.
In the past, it was difficult for the city to identify spoilers who threw stones at glass from the banks of the Bow River to escape surveillance equipment.
"We are trying to do more monitoring of the area to see what people are doing, where these behaviors are happening, and what methods they are using," buhler said: "This may tell us how to deal with the bridge on the road. ".
Technically, the purchase request was a new request from 2017, which was canceled.
At that time, the city suggested that the limit for ordering 18 panels was $100,000.
But at least one city councillor believes that it is time to consider alternative materials to reduce the cost of replacing panels and lights and reduce the need for safety.
"I think it would be better for us to order plexiglass or solar led-
For safety and practical purposes, "Coun. Diane Colley-
Urquhart wrote in a message to the media on Tuesday.
"Some people would think it would ruin the original building, but we need to be reasonable and practical. ”Coun.
The heart of Druid Farrell
She said she did not agree with her colleagues and pointed out that plexiglass is as likely to be destroyed as existing materials. “(The glass)
"It is part of the structure, part of the beauty, and part of the design," Farrell said . ".
"They expected some breakage from the start and ordered the extra panels and had to go ahead.
All of these panels are not expected to last the entire life cycle of the bridge.
A spokesman for the city said Tuesday that alternative materials had not been considered.
The cost of replacing and repairing the crushing panel comes from an internal claim under the city's civic insurance program.
With the graduate season and warm weather approaching, it is expected that more Calgary Asians will visit and photograph the amazing span designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Farrell says some of the pressure to keep the bridge panel intact is due to its popularity.
"Infrastructure in most cities has been destroyed.
There is nothing special about the Peace Bridge, except that it is visible and good-
"The use and vandalism are obvious," Farrell said . ".
"Given that it's the most photographed, we hope it looks good.
The ambassador of the city.
"Mpotkins @ postmedia.