Inglewood merchants worry bridge repairs could mean lost business

As the cityplans to replaceboth bridges linking Inglewood to Calgary's downtown, areabusiness owners are worriedconstruction at the main access points to the community could hurttheir bottom lines.

Both the9th Avenue bridge and the 12thStreet bridge,better known as the "Zoo Bridge," are more than 100 years old.

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Kevin Kent ownsKnifewear and Kent of Inglewood,a men's grooming store. He's concerned about howcustomers will accesshis shops during construction.

"We might as well just put little grave stones in front of the businesses inthis area," he said.

Kent is also adamant that shop owners be part of theprocess as the city plans construction and timelines.

"I definitely want to beinvolvedin the consultation," he said. "If it gets to a point where they plan on closing my bridge for a very long time, I've got a local artist and armourer who will make some fancy chainmailso we can chainourselvesto the bridge."

Coun. Gian-CarloCarra, whose Ward 9 includes Inglewood,saidthe city won't replace both bridges at the same time,andhe knows business owners rely onthe 9th Avenue bridge,in particular.

"The city is aware of that, I'm aware of that, and we're looking at any number of possibilities," Carra said. "We're not sure yet. It's a little too soon to tell."

While construction on the12th Street bridge is planned for this spring, any work on the 9th Avenue bridge is still far off.

The city expects to develop a design for the new bridge early next year, with construction takingplace years later.