The Bayside Estates community played host to a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday that marked the official opening of a new bridge spreading over the local canal to allow both pedestrians and vehicles to safely cross.

Arnie Stefanuik, Vice-President of land development at Genesis Land Development, the builder and designer company of both the bridge and the Bayside Estates community, says the bridge was needed to fulfil certain requirements.

 "It's a traffic requirement. It causes safe movement in case there's an emergency, say a water main break, and you need to send in a fire truck or an ambulance. Now the two communities have several ways out."

 Stefanuik says the bridge "with design and construction" took about two and half years to complete. However, Genesis had plans to build the bridge long before that.

 "We started planning these communities about 15 years ago and within our plans, we knew we had put in three vehicle bridges and this is the first one."

 "In the history of Genesis in Airdrie, this is the first bridge we've built here."

 Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Stefanuik says he is pleased to see Mayor Brown attend.

 "It's always nice meeting Mayor Brown. He's a very nice fun guy. (I) like talking with him"

 
 
 
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