City considering glass panel alternatives as Peace Bridge vandalism continues
It costs $80,000 a year to replace the broken panels, says City of Calgary
The city's long frustration with vandals smashing the glass panels along the sides of Calgary's iconic Peace Bridge could lead to some big changes.
In a release, the City of Calgary said it has hired a consultant to deliver options on alternative materials to glass, with recommendations expected this fall.
"At the end of the day, vandalism to the bridge costs us all and it is an unnecessary [expense]," Charmaine Buhler, the city's bridge maintenance manager, said in the release.
It costs roughly $80,000 a year to remove and replace the broken panels, the city said, although that figure doesn't include the cost of the panels themselves. The city had been using replacement panels provided when the bridge was first built.
Vandalism at the bridge has long been a problem and had previously prompted officials to install more security cameras and a loudspeaker system.
The city said it has spent $546,000 on the glass panels since 2012.
WATCH | This video from 2015 illustrates how vandalism issues at Calgary's Peace Bridge have long been a headache for officials:
With an average of six panels being broken each year, the city said it is now conducting daily security patrols, using security cameras and using the court system to recover costs.
"In recent years, we have seen an increase in vandalism to the Peace Bridge's glass panels, mainly from people throwing rocks at the bridge from the east riverbed," said Buhler.
Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said while he doesn't want to see the repair costs continue, he believes the "glass is an important aspect of the bridge," because it adds "a different dimension of appearance to the bridge itself."
Wong would like to know whether a glass alternative would actually improve the quality of the bridge and if it would lessen maintenance costs overall.
"The Peace Bridge is an icon," said Wong. "We want to maintain the quality."
'Vandalism Gallery'
The city said it will install a "vandalism gallery" at the bridge to try to raise awareness about what's been going on. Hanging art pieces will be installed in an attempt to denounce the vandalism.
The Peace Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Bow River connecting Eau Claire Park to the community of Sunnyside.
It cost $24 million to build and was designed by world-renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
The bridge has become an iconic image for Calgary and often represents the city in national and international broadcasts and publications.
It's used by around 6,000 people per day. On June 29, it was used by 6,478 people, according to automated counters that publish daily data online.