Traffic Bridge Demolition, Phase 1 Set For Sunday, January 10

Work continues on the new Traffic Bridge and on Sunday, January 10 at 9:00 a.m. the two south spans of the old bridge will be taken down. To dismantle the spans, cuts will be made on sections of the bridge and explosive charges will cause the spans to fall.

“The demolition will be conducted according to a comprehensive demolition plan that has been shared with stakeholders including the Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service, and others,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects. “The demolition plan outlines the blast procedure, safety measures to ensure the public and workers are safe, and the clean-up of any hazardous material located within the old bridge material.”

The demolition will be managed by Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), through their contract with licensed blasting specialist Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking Ltd.

An exclusion zone with a radius of 250 meters from the blasting site will be in place approximately one hour prior to the blast to limit public access and maintain citizen safety. Property owners 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.

Residents in the exclusion zone who sign up to receive messages via the City’s NotifyNow notification system will also receive notifications about the demolition.

Safety officers hired by the contractor, as well as the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Fire Department, will be on site around the exclusion zone perimeter. The Saskatoon Fire Department will also patrol the South Saskatchewan River and riverbank to ensure public safety.

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

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 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 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 remaining two spans of the old bridge will be taken down as construction progresses. Details on demolition dates will be shared as they are known.

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