A man has been charged after the Whoop-Up Drive underpass was damaged on August 6, 2025. (Photo: Darryl Watts)

By David Opinko

LPS charges truck driver who damaged Whoop-Up Drive

Aug 7, 2025 | 2:06 PM

Charges have been laid after the underside of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge was damaged.

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) says that, around 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, a semi-truck was carrying a piece of heavy equipment underneath the Whoop-Up Drive bridge on Botteril Bottom Road South when it got stuck.

According to police, the driver made a wrong turn into Indian Battle Park and proceeded under the Whoop-Up Bridge overpass.

This resulted in damage to the underpass that is currently being assessed by the City of Lethbridge and contractors.

“Significant damage was sustained to the excavating equipment and bridge,” says LPS.

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The driver immediately contacted police, who attended and closed both directions of travel on Whoop-Up Drive.

LPS says the name of the driver will not be released as the charge of failing to ascertain sufficient space for movement is not “criminal.” Additional charges are pending.

Motorists are still able to use Whoop-Up Drive, and the following traffic flow adjustments are being made today:

• The loop from northbound Scenic Drive onto Whoop-Up Drive will be reopened
• Westbound 6 Avenue into Whoop-Up Drive will be reopened
• There will be zipper merge locations for westbound traffic, as motorists from 6 Avenue and from the northbound Scenic Drive offramp will merge
• That traffic will then merge with traffic from the southbound Scenic Drive offramp
• To increase capacity and reduce delays, we are also adjusting eastbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes by moving the inside lane closure closer to the bridge
• Both eastbound and westbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes will be fully opened after the bridge decks in each direction

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