Calgary's Zoo Road is now closed as construction of a flood mitigation project around St. George's Island gets underway.

This means getting from Inglewood to Memorial Drive or vice versa, now requires a significant detour.

Walking paths on both the north and south sides of the Bow River are also be affected.

Access to St. Patrick's Island and the zoo administration offices will continue until September by way of the 12th Street S.E. bridge.

The project is expected to be complete by late 2017.

Zoo Road on St. George's Island is now closed while the city builds flood mitigation measures around the island. (Monty Kruger/CBC)

The $30-million project is designed to protect the zoo from future flooding. Flood maps show high risks of the zoo being completely inundated in a "one in 20-year flood event."

The Calgary Zoo will remain open during construction with access through the north gate.