The Circle Drive South Project involves:
- a new six-lane bridge
- five new interchanges (Idylwyld Drive, Lorne Avenue, Valley Road, 11th Street West, and Preston Avenue South)
- ten kilometres of freeway/expressway from Clarence Avenue to Clancy Drive
- access requirements of surrounding lands
- three railway grade separations
- sound attenuation walls
- relocation of utilities
- pedestrian and cyclist facilities
Traffic modelling indicates that the new South Bridge will carry approximately 30,000 vehicles per day when Saskatoon reaches a population of 250,000. One of the primary benefits is the shorter commuting distances for traffic and a 35% reduction in traffic using the Idylwyld Bridge at afternoon rush hour.
The proposed roadway will be a four to six lane divided freeway, with provisions for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river and access the MVA Trails and other recreation trails on both sides of the river
The Circle Drive South Project is the largest single project in the City’s history at an estimated cost of $300 million. It is being cost shared between the City of Saskatoon, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Canada.
On March 29, 2010, City Council awarded the design/build contract to Graham Flatiron Joint Venture. The design/build process is where the contractor designs and builds the project. This process establishes costs up front, helps with better scheduling, and shortens the construction period. Construction began in spring 2010.
In June 2012, Graham Flatiron Joint Venture, the City's contractor, said it could not meet the September 30, 2012 deadline and to expect delays in the project. The new bridge, interchanges, pathways, and pedestrian connections, will be finished in summer 2013.
Click here to see photos of the construction sites.
Click here for updates on the project blog.
Detours: (dates are subject to change)
Preston Avenue and Circle Drive
11th Street
Idylwyld Drive
Lorne Avenue
Rail Detours
Artist renderings of the new south bridge:
Pedestrian Walkway
Lower East Abutment
Lower West Abutment
Upper East Abutment
Other plans: (files are very large and may take awhile to download)
PowerPoint Presentation from May 25/26, 2010 Open House
Complete Alignment Preston Avenue Interchange East Side Interchanges West Side Interchanges
Sound Walls
Circle Drive South River Crossing - Functional Planning Study Executive Summary