Whoop-Up Drive at 11:56 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo: City of Lethbridge traffic camera)

By David Opinko

Damage to Whoop-Up Drive a bit worse than thought, but still safe

Sep 2, 2025 | 12:19 PM

The City of Lethbridge and assessment crews have uncovered more damage to Whoop-Up Drive.

On August 6, 2025, a piece of heavy equipment struck the underside of the bridge. The initial assessment showed damage to four of the six steel girders that support the roadway.

READ MORE: Four of six girders on Whoop-Up Drive damaged, assessments continue (Aug. 12 article)

Acting Director of Infrastructure Jason Drenth explains that they were finally able to look inside the bridge deck, where additional damage was discovered.

“It’s cracked and it’s, like, bent in and caved in. There’s supports there in place to make sure it doesn’t get any worse,” says Drenth.

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The City has been working to revise its repair plans and ensure they can be completed quickly and in a way that will support the long-term integrity of Whoop-Up Drive.

The peak hour lane changes that began on Aug. 20 will remain in place until early October. Between 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., this allows for a second westbound lane to open on the opposite side of the bridge.

A new change, however, will have the westbound zipper merge converge in the middle lane, rather than the right lane.

Drenth says it will allow construction crews to continue with the next stage of bridge rehabilitation.

Altogether, he assures the public that Whoop-Up Drive is still safe to drive on.

“We’ve had the inspectors look at it, and with the additional actions we’ve taken – reducing the speed limit, reducing the lanes, and supports, it is safe to use,” says Drenth.

There is still a restriction on heavy-load trucks, excluding standard pickups, from travelling westbound on Whoop-Up Drive. They will have to take Highway 3 to cross the coulees.

READ MORE: Peak hour lane changes on Whoop-Up Drive start Wednesday, aiming to improve traffic flow (Aug. 20 article)