After two more glass panels were ruined on the Peace Bridge, Calgary's top transportation official revealed that vandals have, overall, caused more than $200,000 in damage to the bridge, forcing the city to upgrade the security camera system in the area.
The helical steel pedestrian bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and spanning the Bow River, was closed for several weeks this summer while a contractor replaced half a dozen cracked panels.
— Calgary Sun
Apparently, eight glass panel have been replaced in total since the bridge opened in 2012. Glass handrail panels have been shattered. And, earlier this year, all the light fixtures had to be replaced because the original ones kept burning out during the cold winter months.
As a deterrent, officials have had to install an extensive surveillance system. Now, they're planning to copy a move made on a nearby bridge and install some speakers that will bark at you if you loiter for too long. "Sir, move along," the loudspeaker will politely intone.
The bridge was controversial at the get-go for its high price tag—$24.5 million. It was approved mere days before the 2008 financial crash. That being said, the Peace Bridge has proved to be quite popular with both locals and tourists.
I'm not trying to pin the blame for these cost overruns on Mr. Calatrava himself, but, wow, the guy just can't seem to catch a break:
1 Comment
That is so crazy!
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