Phase 2 of Traffic Bridge Demolition set for Sunday, February 7

On Sunday, February 7 at 8:30 a.m., the far north span of Saskatoon’s Traffic Bridge will be taken down. While this phase of demolition will not be as dramatic as the first phase of demolition last month, the same stringent safety precautions will be in place for workers and the public. 

“Sections of the north span will be cut and explosive charges will be used, however rather than the entire span falling onto the berm, the south side of the span will simply tip onto the berm,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects. “This will ensure there is no damage to the retaining wall near the riverbank; workers will then manually dismantle the span and begin the clean-up process.”

The demolition will be managed by Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), contracted by the City to undertake the construction of the Bridging to Tomorrow projects, through their contract with demolition contractor Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking Ltd. Stakeholders including the Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service, and others have been consulted.

An exclusion zone with a radius of 250 meters from the blast site will be in place approximately one hour prior to the blast to limit public access and maintain resident safety. Residents located within the exclusion zone are being notified in writing by the contractor and provided with safety information, including the message to remain indoors during the demolition.

Anyone interested in viewing the demolition may watch from outside the exclusion zone. The optimum viewing area will be on the south end of the Broadway Bridge, as this Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic for the demolition. Eye or ear protection is not required as there is no risk of high decibel noise, flying debris or dust from this location.

The Saskatoon Fire Department is cautioning spectators to avoid walking on or standing on the ice on the South Saskatchewan River during the demolition or at any time during the winter. Regardless of temperature, the river current can create unstable ice at any point and at any time. Fire and Police will be patrolling the site to ensure everyone remains safe.

Three minutes prior to the blast, a series of three short sirens will signal a warning that the blast will occur. After the blast, which will take only a few seconds, the contractor will check the site to ensure all explosives have been detonated and the site is safe. At this time, a longer all-clear siren will sound.

Road closures and traffic detours will be in place from between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. to ensure vehicles are safely outside the exclusion zone. Details of these will be shared in advance using the City’s regular communication mechanisms.

The public is free to take photos and video of the demolition from any area outside of the exclusion zone. The public may also watch the demolition on a live webcam accessible at Saskatoon.ca/bridging.

As with the first phase of demolition, all materials produced by the demolition are the property of GCP and cannot be released to the general public. The bridge materials will be disposed of in certified facilities as required. All other material, such as asphalt and concrete rubble, will be recycled.

The remaining centre span of the old bridge will be taken down as construction progresses. Details on the final demolition will be shared as they are known.

 For more City of Saskatoon news, program information, Service Alerts, Traffic Detours, and links to our social media channels, please visit saskatoon.ca.