Bridging to Tomorrow Project Update
The City and its project partners, Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), continue to make progress on the North Commuter Parkway and the new Traffic Bridge.
Once complete in 2018, the North Commuter Parkway will support the transportation needs of citizens who live in Saskatoon’s northeast and work in the Marquis and North Industrial Areas, reducing traffic on the city’s existing bridges. The new Traffic Bridge, also slated for completion in 2018, will support the growing city centre by allowing motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river between the downtown and residential areas in the south sector of the city. The new bridge will look similar to the old bridge, but will be wider to accommodate emergency vehicles.
Traffic Bridge Update – May 2016
This month, crews continued refurbishing the south in-river pier (Pier 3), which will support the new bridge deck. Forms were set in place and concrete was poured into the shaft of the pier. The south abutment, the structure at the end of the bridge upon which the main bridge structure will rest, is also being constructed. Piles have been drilled to support the south abutment. Over the next month, construction of Pier 3 and the south abutment will continue. By this fall, Pier 3, the south abutment, the north abutment, and the new south span (Span 4) should be complete.
North Commuter Parkway Update – May 2016
Parkway Bridge
A cofferdam has been built in the river which will allow new bridge construction to begin. This temporary enclosure provides a dry area in which to construct the pier, and construction of Pier 1 is underway. Work includes excavating the cofferdam at the pier location and fabricating the forms for the pier. Construction on the east embankment of the new bridge is also well underway.
Parkway Roadways
Clearing and topsoil stripping for the new roadways is now complete and earthwork operations continue along McOrmond Drive and Central Avenue. Storm sewers are being constructed for the new lanes of Central Avenue between Attridge Drive and Fedoruk Drive. Work to improve the Attridge Drive and Central Avenue intersection will soon begin.
By this fall, upgrades to the Attridge Drive/Central Avenue intersection, and the Marquis Drive and Waneskewin Road intersection will be complete. Drainage, waterline and sewer infrastructure should be installed along Central Avenue, and overhead powerlines should be relocated along Central Avenue.
Traffic and Trails
Increased traffic will be evident at Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road with trucks hauling materials accessing the bridge construction site.
Staring the week of May 30, traffic restrictions and lane closures will be in place to accommodate work at Central Avenue and Attridge Drive to expand the intersection and create dual left turn bays from eastbound Attridge Drive to northbound Central Avenue. Beginning in July, work will start at the intersection of the Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road. Citizens will be notified of traffic detours through the City’s Daily Road Report, road signage, and social media.
A detour at Spadina Crescent between the Broadway Bridge and 3rd Avenue is in place until the end of the construction period. The Saskatchewan Crescent eastbound detour to 11th Street and westbound detour to the Victoria Avenue on/off ramps is in place until August 2016. Rotary Park and River Landing trail detours will continue through the construction period. Access to Crocus Prairie Trail from Central Avenue is closed until winter 2016. At times, the east sidewalk at Wanuskewin Road and Marquis Drive will be restricted for vehicle crossings.
Ways to Watch Construction Progress
Anyone interested can keep an eye on construction progress at saskatoon.ca/bridging. The webpage includes a quarterly video update, live project webcams, time lapse videos, and photographs. Construction viewing areas are also in place at River Landing and on the Meewasin Trail just north of the GCP construction trailer site, and from the Meewasin Trail located just east of the cul-de-sac at the north end of Kinnear Avenue (north of Silverwood Golf Course).
Stay Safe Near Construction Zones
Citizens are reminded to obey traffic and Meewasin Trail detours, and to respect all safety measures in place including site fencing and site markings. The City is also reminding pedestrians to stay clear of work areas near the construction sites.