During June 2013 , Calgary and most of Southwestern Alberta were impacted by catastrophic floods . About 75 000 of Calgary 's population of 1.2 million people at the time had to be evacuated from their homes as the rivers burst over their banks . The George C. King Bridge , being right over the Bow River and under construction at the time was partially supported on supports which were washed out by the river flow . The newly constructed bridge deck sagged and cracked . After the flood , it was decided that the entire bridge deck which had been completed to that time would have to be replaced , setting the project back by more than a year . However , 16 months later the bridge was opened to the public amid much fanfare , the first of the many bridges destroyed in the flood to be reconstructed
catastrophic floods
2013 Alberta floods
George C. King Bridge