News Releases

Today the City of Saskatoon, along with the Government of Saskatchewan and Government of Canada, celebrated the grand opening of the City’s newly expanded Water Treatment Plant.

This project includes the construction of new reservoirs at the Avenue H and 42nd Street facilities to increase useable water storage capacity from 42.1 to 71.8 million litres, and new high lift pumping stations at each location for improved efficiency and reduced operating costs.  This brings the overall useable water storage capacity for the City of Saskatoon to 113.2 million litres, including the Acadia Street reservoir.

In addition, an ultraviolet disinfection system was added at the new four-storey-tall Avenue H facility.  The ultraviolet disinfection facility enables water to be pumped past a series of UV lamps to neutralize organisms missed by other disinfection processes.  Although Saskatoon’s stringent drinking water processes already comply with current water quality regulations, this additional measure further advances water quality assurances for the community.

The total cost of this project was $77 million with the Government of Canada contributing $12 million, the Government of Saskatchewan contributing $7 million and the City of Saskatoon contributing $58 million.

“The Government of Canada is proud to have partnered with the Province of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon to increase the availability of quality drinking water for residents of Saskatoon,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This is an excellent example of building on existing infrastructure to meet the needs of years to come.”

“Our government is proud to have contributed $7 Million dollars to this important upgrade and expansion to the City’s water treatment system,” Saskatoon Eastview MLA Corey Tochor said on behalf of Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter.  “This investment will ensure future water needs can keep up with growth in the City of Saskatoon, which is now more than 260,000 people strong. We look forward to continuing to work with our municipal and federal partners on important infrastructure projects as our province continues to grow.”

“The investment ensures City of Saskatoon infrastructure can easily handle high demand periods for water usage, particularly in the summer months,” Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison said.  “With the new UV disinfection facility, we’re well-positioned to meet future treatment regulations that ensure protection from biological threats.”

Learn more about the City’s water treatment system at saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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.

The City has launched a Corporate Asset Management Plan to manage infrastructure, and to ensure that the City’s assets are capable of meeting the levels of service required to support the City of Saskatoon’s goals. 

“Our Asset Management Planning is an important step in establishing levels of service for the rehabilitation of all City assets, and identifying supporting financial strategies,” Director of Finance, Clae Hack says. “This type of long-term planning supports our goal of managing the City in a smart, sustainable way.”

The overarching Corporate Asset Management Plan will guide future funding, assist in the stewardship of assets, and support the delivery of City services by:

•        providing sufficient information to make informed and balanced decisions;
•        ensuring the required levels of services are provided in a cost-effective manner over the assets life;
•        ensuring maximum benefit is received from the assets; and
•        helping to manage risks to the delivery of the services (risk of asset failure).

“Under our Corporate Asset Management Plan, we are also planning eight individual Asset Management Plans for our major asset categories to begin with, but our goal over the next few years is to have a master asset management plan that encompasses all assets that the City owns,” Hack says.

To start, the eight major asset categories addressed in the Corporate Asset Management Plan will be:

•        Buildings and Facilities
•        Roads and Sidewalks
•        Bridges and Overpasses
•        Parks
•        Vehicles and Equipment
•        Transit
•        Water, Wastewater and Storm Water
•        Electrical Utility

Each individual plan will focus on four main questions:

•        What does the City own and what is it worth?
•        What is the current condition assessment?
•        What is the desired condition?
•        What is the funding gap required to reach the desired condition?

The content contained in each individual asset management plan will be slightly different depending on the asset class. Although the level of service and condition level for each type of asset is defined differently, an expenditure funding level will be identified in order to address any potential service level gaps.

The Asset Management Plans will be presented to City Council with a recommendation that the information be received and that the matter be considered during the City’s annual Budget Review process, next for 2017.  The plans will ensure that City Council has complete information when making decisions on how to fund the rehabilitation and maintenance of the City’s assets.  City Council will have the ability to select a desired condition rating (such as the age of the City’s Transit fleet or number of water main breaks over 25 years) as well as an expenditure level to address any gaps between the current and desired condition.

The overarching Corporate Asset Management Plan and the individual asset management plans support the Strategic Goal of Asset and Financial Sustainability, and the 4-year priority to establish levels of service for rehabilitation of assets and identify supporting financial strategies. The plans also support the City’s longer 10-year strategy to adopt and implement a corporate-wide asset management and rehabilitation philosophy.

To view the complete report along with Frequently Asked Questions, visit saskatoon.ca>Budget & Finance.

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

Four major infrastructure projects are planned for the 2016 construction season.  Extensive rehabilitation work will take place on Broadway Avenue between the Broadway Bridge and 8th Street; rehabilitation is planned for the Ruth Street overpass on Idylwyld Drive; functional improvements will be made at Attridge Drive and Central Avenue; and work will continue on the Victor Road Interchange at Highway 11.

“The plan for 2016 is to continue to improve the functionality, condition and longevity of Saskatoon’s infrastructure to ensure these corridors can serve the residents and visitors of Saskatoon better and well into the future,” says Mike Gutek, Director of Major Projects. “To achieve these goals, there will be some traffic impacts and disruption to residents and businesses. The City is working diligently to minimize these impacts as much as possible through measures like traffic planning, early communication, site rental fees, and night work when appropriate.”

Each project will include the necessary traffic restrictions and detours to ensure the work can be completed safely. The impacts may include the closure of Broadway Bridge for approximately one week, detours and restrictions along Broadway Avenue, and reducing traffic to one lane in each direction on the Ruth Street overpass. Transportation planning has been carried out to ensure these projects do not have a cumulative traffic effect in any one area of the city.

The major repairs and improvements planned for 2016 will have impacts on residents, businesses, and commuters. The City has been working with stakeholders to ensure those immediately affected can plan appropriately for the impacts of these projects. Once this summer’s construction calendar is finalized, the City will outline the impacts to various commuting routes, and provide route options.

“Results from the 2015 Civic Services Survey indicate residents feel roads and sidewalks are by far the most important issue facing the city as well as infrastructure in general,” says Gutek. “We’ve made some great progress through the Building Better Roads program over the past two years and we will continue to build on that success.”

A report outlining the four major projects and the anticipated traffic restrictions will be presented to SPC on Transportation on Tuesday, February 9.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City is starting off 2016 on a high note by making a positive stride toward our Strategic Goal of a Culture of Continuous Improvement.  For the fifth year in a row, the City has been selected as one of Saskatchewan’s 2016 Top Employers. The competition recognizes leading employers which offer exceptional places to work.

“Being named a Saskatchewan Top Employer for five years in a row is an outstanding achievement” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.  “We make conscious efforts to continuously enhance our workplace culture.”

The City of Saskatoon was evaluated on eight criteria, the same used for the Canada Top 100 Employer’s competition:

1. Physical Workplace
2. Work Atmosphere & Communications
3. Financial Benefits & Compensation
4. Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
5. Vacation & Personal Time Off
6. Employee Engagement
7. Training & Skills Development
8. Community Involvement

Employers are compared with other organizations in their field to determine which ones offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

“This achievement would not be possible without the hard work of City staff,” Gryba says. “Our employees are our greatest asset.”

Saskatchewan’s Top Employers 2016 are highlighted in the February 3, 2016 editions of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. 

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

International bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has awarded the City of Saskatoon its top rating of ‘AAA’/Stable. Every year, S&P reviews the City’s finances and delivers a rating in a report based on that study.

“Standard and Poor’s believes the City demonstrates what they view as good political and managerial strength, and this is evidenced in our very lengthy track-record of balancing budgets and meeting goals for the City,” says His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison. “Our financial management is strong, and our financial policies are well-planned and prudent. We time and time again demonstrate our stability.”

Standard & Poor’s notes, “…the stable outlook reflects expectations that, throughout the two-year outlook horizon, Saskatoon will continue benefiting from a very strong economy, and maintain exceptional liquidity and very strong budgetary flexibility.”

“Once again, this is excellent news,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “The ‘AAA’ rating will continue to provide the City with the financial certainty and budgetary flexibility necessary to maintain and add infrastructure as we grow toward half a million people.” 

“The City’s budgetary performance has historically been stable and very strong, in our view,” the agency notes.  As S&P continues to view the financial outlook for Saskatoon as stable, it further outlines that even with a downturn in the resource sector somewhat affecting Saskatoon’s economy, the City’s revenue structure will be able to mitigate this impact.

The agency also points to the City’s transparency: “…good, annual financial statements and robust annual operating and capital budget documents…” as other reasons to award the rating.

The City has received the ‘AAA’/stable credit rating every year for more than a decade allowing the City to borrow money at lower interest rates.

View the full report from Standard & Poor’s on saskatoon.ca.

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

Saskatoon is an active winter city and keeping people moving around is a top priority. To keep roads clear through all types of winter weather conditions, our roadway maintenance plan includes a variety of ice management and plowing strategies developed and fine-tuned over a number of years.

“While we continue to look for ways to improve and be more efficient with new products and equipment, the foundation of our winter maintenance strategies is the use of sand for traction and salt to soften the ice,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.

“A constant during winter is change,” Hyde says “Snow, as well as any change to temperature, moisture levels, wind, amount of traffic, or any combination of these, can create new road conditions and this is what happened this past weekend.”

Saskatoon had its first stretch of extreme cold which contributed to icy conditions, followed by light, puffy snow on Monday night adding additional moisture. This, along with dropping temperatures from -14 C to -22 C during the Tuesday morning commute  created ice crystals that settled on the roadways.  Added to this was wind, which effectively polished and concealed the ice. Aware of the forecast for snow, crews were out with a combination sand and salt mixture blended with a magnesium chloride additive to reduce the formation of ice and enhance traction.

In preparation for warmer temperatures that may go above the freezing point forecast for Friday (Jan. 22), crews – as usual – will be out applying sand and de-icing materials. Tonight there will be 13 sanders applying sand and de-icing materials to high-traffic roadways, along with 4 graders that will be shaving down any packed snow or ice.

“Even with the use of sand and de-icing agents, roadway conditions similar to what drivers experienced earlier this week may be present Friday because of the change in temperature, moisture from melting, and peak driving times,” Hyde says.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and be cautious.

Additionally, the City takes extra precautionary measures for managing bridges and overpasses which are more susceptible to icy conditions. When icy conditions exist, all bridge decks are checked and sanded as required every two hours. Bridge decks are usually sanded just before rush hour because it’s very difficult to sand during peak times.

We will also be starting our Circle Drive Snow Removal Program this Sunday night, also known as the “Snow Train.” The goal is to complete this work in two nights, to remove snow from the walls of bridges, overpasses and guard rails.

Please watch for equipment on the road. The large, slower-moving, machines used are equipped with flashing amber lights, and can be found on the road at any time of day or night.  Drivers should stay back a minimum of 15 metres (about 2.5 car lengths) from the equipment and approach slowly if passing is necessary.   

When safe to do so, drivers can report icy locations to Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

Snow What to Do this winter by visiting saskatoon.ca/snow. Find real time Snow & Ice and Traffic Detour alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts or follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Earlier this morning, a car collided with a Saskatoon Transit bus northbound on Clarence Avenue.  It happened at the intersection of Isabella Street – which is controlled by stop signs on Isabella.

Paramedics have taken a man who was in the car to Royal University Hospital; at last word he was said to be in serious condition.

There were no injuries to anyone on the bus.

Saskatoon Transit is fully cooperating with the ongoing Police investigation. 

Traffic restrictions are in place at the collision scene.  While the # 17 Market Mall-Stonebridge-City Centre continues to run, pick-ups and drop-offs are not available at four stops between Hilliard and Taylor Streets because of the investigation.

Please check saskatoontransit.ca for details or call 306-975-3100.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

At 9:00 a.m. today, the two south spans of Traffic Bridge were successfully taken down using explosive charges. The area has now been inspected and secured and road closures and traffic detours are being reopened. The 250 m exclusion zone has also been lifted.

The demolition was managed by Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), through their contract with licensed blasting specialist Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking Ltd. Saskatoon’s Police Service and Fire Department patrolled the area surrounding Traffic Bridge to ensure public safety.

Once the debris from the demolition is cleared, construction of the south portion of the new bridge can begin. GCP is hopeful that residents will start to see the first new southern span being erected by this summer.

The remaining two northern spans of the old bridge will be taken down as construction progresses. Details on future demolition dates will be shared as they are known.

The City wishes to thank residents, especially property owners and tenants within the exclusion zone, for their cooperation during this first phase of demolition. For more information about the Bridging to Tomorrow Project, including the new Traffic Bridge and the North Commuter Parkway, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.