Work near the Laurie Boyd Bridge will result in a pathway closure Friday, October 27.

Town of Okotoks Engineering Manager Marley Oness says geotechnical testing will require a section of pathway near the pedestrian bridge to be closed.

"We're going to be replacing Laurie Boyd Bridge," Oness explains. "As a result, we need some geotechnical information that will go into the design parameters for the bridge abutments."

He says this information is being collected for the detailed design stage of the project, which is expected to take about four months. Pending council approval in the 2018 budget, construction of the new bridge is expected to begin sometime in spring of next year.

Oness says once construction does begin on the new bridge, their goal is to complete the project with minimal disruption for pedestrians.

"We're going to try to keep the old bridge open as much as possible during construction on the new bridge so that the corridor will remain open, for the most part, during the construction."

This Friday's closure begins at 8 a.m. and will affect the section of pathway east of where the Laurie Boyd Bridge comes out, on the north side.

Detour signs will be in place and the pathway is expected to be reopened by the end of the day on Friday.

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