Bridge Construction Projects On Time, On Budget

The first of three piers on Saskatoon’s new North Commuter Parkway (NCP) is nearly complete and work has started on the second one. Dan Willems, Director of Major Projects, says significant progress has been made on both the NCP and the new Traffic Bridge since the City’s Bridging to Tomorrow Project began less than a year ago.

“We have moved beyond several months of site mobilization and preparation,” says Willems. “From now on, we will really start to see both bridges taking shape with concrete pier construction and steel spans being put into place. The first North Commuter Parkway span may even be up before the end of this year.”

Willems says construction of new roads to connect Marquis Drive to Central Avenue and McOrmond Drive will continue throughout the winter, and improvements to the Central Avenue and Attridge Drive intersection to accommodate increased traffic will wrap up this November.

“We know roads and traffic congestion are top concerns for people, and that’s why the City is doing this work,” Willems says. “We know there have been delays as a result of the Attridge Drive and Central Avenue construction, and we appreciate commuters’ patience, but once complete, the intersection will be wider -- with double turning lanes for people turning northbound – and that’s going to greatly improve traffic flow.”

At the Traffic Bridge, both the north and south abutments walls have been completed and the south span will be put into place over the coming weeks. Following that, a November demolition is planned for the last remaining span of the old Traffic Bridge.  Previously, the contractor had planned a demolition with explosives, however Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), which is in charge of the Bridging to Tomorrow Project, believes it can perform a tear-down from the containment berm.

“So, there’s definitely going to be a lot of action at both bridge sites throughout winter,” says Willems.

The new Traffic Bridge will support the growing city centre by allowing drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the South Saskatchewan River. Once complete, it will resemble the original bridge, but will be wider to accommodate larger vehicles like fire trucks and buses.

The North Commuter Parkway will support the transportation needs of citizens who live in Saskatoon’s northeast but work in the Marquis and North Industrial Areas.

Bridging to Tomorrow project updates, including detailed monthly summaries, links to live cameras at each bridge site, and quarterly video updates, are available at saskatoon.ca/bridging. In person, anyone can watch Traffic Bridge progress at the River Landing viewing area. North Commuter Parkway construction can be viewed from the Meewasin Trail just east of the cul de sac at the north end of Kinnear Avenue (north of Silverwood Golf Course).