News Releases

Since the February declaration of construction starting on the Bridging to Tomorrow project, the City and project partners, Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), have completed a substantial amount of work on both 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 with the ability to accommodate emergency vehicles. 

Traffic Bridge Update – April 2016

Throughout the remainder of April, crews are continuing to work on refurbishing the south in-river pier (concrete column that supports the bridge deck), and are drilling piles to build the south abutment (supporting end of the bridge on the riverbank). The north berm that supported the bridge demolition has been removed, and crews have also finished removing part of the south berm to reduce impacts on river navigation. Later this spring and throughout summer, the southernmost pier will be reconstructed, the new north and south bridge abutments will be built, and the steel structure for the new southernmost span will be constructed.

North Commuter Parkway Update – April 2016

Parkway Bridge

A road has been constructed on the west side of the river to access the construction site. All regulatory permits to begin in-river construction have been received and work on an earthen berm to support construction of the first bridge pier has been built. By August, the first pier should be complete and work on the second pier will begin.

Parkway Roadways

Construction of the Parkway’s new roadways has begun. Clearing, topsoil stripping and ditch excavation are underway for the twinning and extension of Central Avenue to intersect with McOrmond Drive. This road will be extended to connect to the Parkway bridge. Earth has been moved to consolidate the ground under the future roadway in the Northeast Swale, and two clay berms (walls) have been installed through the Northeast Swale to prevent water from draining into the work zone. This work is being monitored by GCP’s environmental consultant and audited by the City’s technical advisor.

Improvements to the intersections of Central Avenue and Attridge Drive, and Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road, will begin in May.  

Traffic and Trails

Increased traffic will be evident at Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road with trucks hauling materials accessing the bridge construction site. Restrictions at Central Avenue and Attridge Drive, and at Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road, will begin in May and citizens will be notified of traffic detours through the City’s Daily Road Report, road signage, and social media.

Rotary Park and River Landing trail detours are in place and 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 has a new 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 at the intersection of Wanuskewin Road and Marquis Drive.

Stay Safe Near Construction Zones

Citizens are reminded to obey all traffic and Meewasin Trail detours in place, 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.

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

Since announcing the “Building Better Roads” road rehabilitation plan in 2013, the City has improved more than 420 kilometers of roadway – about the distance between Saskatoon and Medicine Hat. This summer, another 212 kilometers will be improved, including Broadway Avenue, Circle Drive from the Idylwyld Drive overpass to 33^rd Street, and College Drive between Preston Avenue and Central Avenue.

“We’ve made incredible progress over the past two years,” says General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, Jeff Jorgenson. “We are on pace to exceed our initial three-year projection of 432 kilometres by 44 percent as a result of improvements to various strategic processes.”

The City’s Building Better Roads plan is aimed at repair, but also improving traffic flow in order to reduce congestion. Traffic flow improvements will be made at some key intersections, including Highway 16 at 71st Street, 22nd Street at Diefenbaker Drive, and Warman Road at 51st Street. As for major projects, construction of the interchanges at McOrmond Drive and College Drive and at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 will begin; the Idylwyld Drive overpass over Ruth Street will be reconstructed; and work continues on the Bridging to Tomorrow project, which includes the North Commuter Parkway Bridge and the new Traffic Bridge.

“Improving current road conditions and traffic flow is a significant portion of this construction season,” says Jorgenson. “Residents will also see further development in newer neighbourhoods, park development in seven neighbourhoods, new sound attenuation walls, new pathways, and sidewalk preservation.”  

Thirty-eight kilometers of sanitary sewer and water main infrastructure will continue, and the City will complete nearly 500 water and sewer connection replacements. The work on Broadway Avenue alone includes 1,380 metres of water main rehabilitation and replacement of 60 lead connections.

In 2016, nearly $59 million will be spent on street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, and snow and ice management in Saskatoon. This is $6 million more than last year, and 57 percent more than in 2013 ($37.3 million).

For more information on roadway construction, street sweeping, and to access the Report a Pothole Map visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads. The full list of road preservation and rehab projects broken down by City wards can be accessed at saskatoon.ca/roadpreservation.

Civic Administration will present the final Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan) report to the Governance and Priorities Committee on Monday, April 18, 2016, and request that the report be forwarded to City Council for approval, in principle, of the long-term benefits and key directions outlined in the plan.

“The Growth Plan was developed over the last two and a half years through a five-phase public engagement process called ‘Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon’,” says Alan Wallace, Director of Planning and Development.  “Residents were involved in discussions on everything from current and future challenges of growth to potential long-term changes for the city.”

Resident feedback has been used alongside technical work to prepare the final Growth Plan, which outlines eight key directions to guide transportation, transit, and land use planning to accommodate a population of half a million people.

The key directions included in the Growth Plan are:

1. focus growth and enable redevelopment along Saskatoon’s major corridors, with the goal of creating complete communities along these corridors;
2. support the development of strategic infill sites consisting of the Downtown, North Downtown, and the University of Saskatchewan’s endowment lands to achieve infill targets;
3. provide a robust transportation network that includes opportunities for all modes of transportation;
4. create a range of enhanced transit services over time to meet a variety of needs;
5. implement rapid transit facilities and services along the city’s major corridors as demand grows to support projected ridership;
6. use a range of operational methods to enhance the speed and reliability of transit services, including traffic management interventions where necessary;
7. acknowledge the need for future additional river crossing capacity within Circle Drive to serve anticipated travel demand and consider this alongside methods to increase the “people-carrying capacity” of all bridges; and
8. recognize that the supporting initiatives of the Financing Growth Strategy, the Employment Areas Study, and the Active Transportation Plan are also important components to achieving this vision.

“Without the Growth Plan, economic and community impacts of continuing the current growth patterns are expected to include increased traffic congestion, reduced levels of transit service, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs,” said Wallace.

If the Growth Plan is approved in principle, a ten-year action plan will be created to guide the implementation of the Growth Plan, which will be brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.

Comments and requests to speak at the Governance and Priorities Committee may be submitted, in advance, via the City’s website at www.saskatoon.ca/writetocouncil.

For more information on the Growth Plan, including the final technical and summary reports, please visit the project website at www.growingfwd.ca.

Extensive water main upgrades and road resurfacing will begin along Broadway Avenue on May 2. The work will last approximately five months, and has been specifically designed to minimize the impact on the community as much as possible. Broadway Avenue will remain open for business and entertainment as the work is completed in phases.

“This work will result in fewer water main breaks in the future, meaning less disruption to businesses and drivers,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction and Design. “Road resurfacing will extend the lifespan of the avenue and result in a new, smoother surface. Deferring this project would result in further deterioration and increase future construction costs.”

In the first phase, the Broadway Bridge will be closed for approximately one week. The City will take this opportunity to simultaneously complete asset perseveration work on adjacent roads north of the bridge, minimizing the overall time the bridge will be closed.  Commuters are being asked to reroute their commute during the summer-long project, making use of other bridges and highways. Detours will be clearly marked, and when necessary, the primary detour route around Broadway Avenue (when the bridge is open) will be Dufferin Avenue.

When work on Broadway Avenue is complete, the project will move onto side streets, including block sections of 10th, 11th, and 12th Streets as well as a four block section of Main Street. Residents who require individual sewer line or lead water line replacements have already been notified.

“We have been working with homeowners and businesses since last November, giving as much advance notice as possible. Throughout construction there will be some unavoidable inconveniences, specifically with water supply and route access”, says Anger. “Whenever homes and businesses are briefly without regular water access, water will be supplied via temporary hookups.”

For more information please visit saskatoon.ca/broadway.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE.

From the April 4, 2016 Meeting

6.2.2 2015 Annual Report – Development Appeals Board

Decision

*The Committee has forwarded the report to City Council for information.

Background

*In 2015, 46 appeals were filed with the board – an increase over 2014 when 40 appeals were received. The scope of appeals in 2015 focused on development or building permit refusals.

7.1.2 2015 Annual Report – Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) admissions set a record with 145,420. Annual overall facility usage number of guests of 285,162 is also an increase from 2014.
*The SFFP&Z continues to receive excellent community support from four volunteer organizations.
*The SFFP&Z has five reserves established for future expenditures. These reserves are well positioned for the 2016 operating year.

7.1.5 2015 Annual Report – Municipal Golf Courses

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The accomplishments of municipal golf courses in 2015 included increased attendance from 2014 and significant generation of revenue from power carts, pull carts, the driving range, retail golf shop sales, and Club6Pack sales.
*In 2015, transfers to reserves exceeded budgeted amounts, resulting in a transfer of an additional $93,500 to the Golf Course Capital Reserve.
*The challenges in 2015 included an extended period of air quality issues, due to smoke from forest fires, and significant rainfall in September.

7.1.6 2015 Annual Report – Development Review Section

Decision

*The Committee received the report and has forwarded it to the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee and the Municipal Planning Commission for information.

Background

*In 2015, 1,502 Development Permits, 20 Discretionary Use Applications, 37 Official Community Plan/Rezoning Applications, and 82 Subdivision Applications were reviewed.
*Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 was amended to further the implementation of the Neighbourhood Level Infill Development Strategy.
*The Andrew Boyd House (803 9th Avenue North) was designated as a Municipal Heritage Property.
*The Saskatoon Register of Historic Places (Register) was approved by City Council.

7.1.7 The Business Profile – Annual Report 2015

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*A total of 1,243 new businesses were licensed in 2015, bringing the total number of licensed businesses to 10,659.
*Of the 10,659 total licensed businesses, 58% (6,176) are commercial/industrial, and 42% (4,483) are home-based.
*The total number of licenses businesses increased by 2% since 2014 and by 46% since 2005.

7.1.8 2015 Year-End Report – Building Standards Division

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The number of building permits issued in 2015 was 4,327. In 2014, 4,996 building permits were issued. The value of construction associated with the number of building permits issued in 2015 was $1,020,394,000; significantly higher than the value of construction of $878,238,000 associated with building permits issued in 2014.
*The year-end balance for the Community Services Department Plan Review and Inspection Service Stabilization Reserve increased by $2,000,205 from the 2014 reserve balance. As a result, the balance in the Reserve was $8,042,211 as of December 31, 2015.
*Building Standards continues to manage fiscal responsibilities by reviewing fees associated with programs and services offered to ensure division operations are aligned with Building Standards’ cost recovery model.
*The issuance of building permits for one-unit dwellings on single-family lots continue, on average, to be less than the 5 business day performance target in 2015.
*There were 32,867 building and plumbing inspections performed in 2015.

7.1.9 2015 Year-End Report – Neighbourhood Planning Section

Decision

*The Committee received the report.

Background

*The Neighbourhood Planning Section is involved in a wide variety of programs and services that help revitalize core neighbourhoods, improve safety, increase attainable housing, and improve urban quality in the City Centre.

7.2.1 Employment Areas Study

Decision

*The Committee recommended City Council receive the report and that policy directions for employment areas be brought forward for further consideration as part of a proposed implementation plan for the overall Growth Plan to Half a Million.

Background

*The Employment Areas Study is a related component of the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million and is focused on ensuring that existing and future employment areas contribute to making Saskatoon a healthier, more sustainable, attractive, and accessible place to live and work.
*The Saskatoon Speaks Community Vision and the Strategic Plan goals for Sustainable Growth and Moving Around are the basis for the goals for employment areas.
*The Study includes an employment projection, which indicates that there is generally sufficient land available within the proposed Growth Plan to support employment growth to 500,000 people.
*Existing policies and plans that shape employment growth were reviewed to identify any gaps or inconsistencies in current planning practices that may limit the City from achieving the goals for future employment areas.
*The Study recommends a number of future policy directions centered on achieving employment areas that are well designed, accessible by all transportation modes, and located closer to where people live, while retaining a strong city centre that is the focal point of commerce in the city and region.

7.2.2 City-Wide Office Development Policy Review

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:

1. That the report be received;
2. That Administration enter into discussions with commercial urban reserves;
3. That discussions be held with the development community (including but not limited to commercial realtors and developers, BID, SREDA, Ideas Inc.); and
4. That the Administration report its findings regarding the proposed numbers in the report to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services.

Background

*A strong office market is an important component to a healthy and vibrant City Centre.
*Saskatoon’s suburban and Downtown office vacancy rates are consistent with those of other resource-based jurisdictions in western Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina).
*The City Centre has an extensive range of advantages that support office development, but also has some challenges related to construction and occupancy costs, parking cost and availability, and perceptions of safety.
*A review of the City’s office policies and those of other jurisdictions showed a wide range of approaches to support City Centre office development. All jurisdictions reviewed, except Saskatoon, restrict offices in industrial zoning districts to some extent.
*Proposed limits on total area of new business parks, maximum office size limits in industrial areas, combined with modest incentives and process changes, will ensure that the City’s regulations, programs and procedures align with its policy supporting City Centre office development.

7.2.3 Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. Clubhouse Project

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that the request by the Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. to construct a new clubhouse at Kilburn Park be approved in principle, subject to Administrative conditions outlined.

Background

*The City has a Lease Agreement with the Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. that outlines, among other things, conditions and approvals required to replace the existing clubhouse.
*The Hilltops organization was seeking approval to construct a new clubhouse at Kilburn Park.

7.2.4 Arena Partnership – Request from University of Saskatchewan to Contribute to Proposed Twin Pad Ice Facility

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be authorized to negotiate a contribution agreement wherein the City would provide a $1.0 million capital contribution to a twin pad ice facility on the University of Saskatchewan property, based on the contribution agreement recognizing ongoing community access to the facility; and
2. That upon conclusion of the negotiations, the Administration bring forward the proposed agreement for the Committee’s consideration.

Background

*The University of Saskatchewan is requesting a capital contribution from the City to help support the construction of a new twin ice pad facility (ice arena) to be built on the University property near the Saskatoon Field House.

7.2.6 Hosting Block Parties

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.

Background

*Residents, with the support of their neighbours, can host a block party by following a short application process and submitting a nominal application fee.
*General liability insurance is strongly encouraged for block parties and would be the responsibility of the block party organizers.