News Releases

Saskatoon’s new Traffic Bridge and North Commuter Parkway are literally taking shape. The Bridging to Tomorrow project began a year and a half ago and both bridges remain on schedule to be complete in October 2018.

The six-lane North Commuter Parkway will connect Saskatoon’s Marquis Industrial Area to neighbourhoods on the east-side. It will also accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

“At the North Commuter Parkway, the structural steel for the west half of the bridge is in place and work is ongoing on the final in-river pier,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager for Major Projects and Preservation. “Once the final pier is finished, the structural steel for the east half of the bridge will be installed. Crews are also installing deck panels on the west half of the bridge.” 

Before the North Commuter Parkway can open, new roads and upgrades to existing ones are also necessary. The twinning of Central Avenue continues, and the McOrmond Drive extension is well underway.

The new Traffic Bridge looks similar to the old traffic bridge but is four spans and is slightly wider and taller in order to accommodate wider traffic lanes, wider pathways on both sides, and overhead clearance for emergency vehicles. Once complete, it will once again serve as a convenient link for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists crossing the South Saskatchewan River.

“All of the structural steel is now in place on the Traffic Bridge and work is ongoing to install the deck panels which create the ‘subfloor’ of the new bridge. By the end of summer, all of the deck panels will be installed.  The asphalt driving surface and adjacent landscaping will be completed in the summer of 2018,” says Willems.

Bridging to Tomorrow project updates, including detailed monthly summaries, links to live cameras at each bridge site, and quarterly video updates, are available at saskatoon.ca/bridging.

In person, anyone can watch Traffic Bridge progress at the River Landing viewing area. North Commuter Parkway construction can be viewed from the Meewasin Trail just east of the cul-de-sac at the north end of Kinnear Avenue (north of Silverwood Golf Course). 

The Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) is pleased to announce the draft P4G Regional Plan (Plan) is complete.

“The goal of the Plan is to ensure each of the five partnering municipalities can benefit from growth opportunities, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs by working together,” says Alex Fallon, Independent Chair of the P4G Regional Oversight Committee and President and CEO of Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).

The draft Plan recommends a series of guiding principles and policies around land use, transportation, servicing, and implementation, as well as proposes new governance and administrative structures for the region.

The P4G invites residents in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville; and the Town of Osler to an Information Session for the draft Plan.

“The draft Regional Plan is a significant milestone in our efforts to plan for long-term growth across our region.  I encourage the public to attend to understand how the Regional Plan will work and the next steps,” Fallon says.

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION:  P4G Regional Plan
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Open House – 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Public Presentation 6:30 p.m. followed by a moderated Question and Answer Session
North Ridge Centennial Community Centre
901 3^rd Street North, Martensville

The public is encouraged to submit, in advance, any questions or comments to be addressed during the Moderated Question and Answer Session on the P4G website at partnershipforgrowth.ca.  Answers will be posted on the website in a Frequently Asked Questions document after June 27, 2017.

The Consultant, O2 Planning + Design, and representatives from the partner municipalities and SREDA will be in attendance.

To view the draft Plan, Servicing Strategy, and the Governance and Implementation Strategy, as well as to submit questions for the Moderated Question and Answer Session, please visit the P4G website at partnershipforgrowth.ca.

The City has partnered with the Downtown Saskatoon Business Improvement District on a pilot project that will use new technology to keep sidewalks clean.

“We’re continuously looking for better and more affordable ways to improve how we deliver services, and we want to help our citizens do the same thing," says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations.  "In this case, using new partnerships and new technology will hopefully improve the way BID sweep their sidewalks, and provide a cost savings for the City at the same time."

“In the city centre, sidewalks are swept by the Downtown Saskatoon BID, but catch basins, gutters, and bike lanes are kept free of debris by the city.  By combining these two jobs, cost savings can be achieved by both the BID and the City.”

This spring, summer and fall, a pilot study will be done to determine the long-term feasibility of this partnership.  The City will provide the equipment and training, and the BID will supply the staff to operate the machinery.

A new piece of sweeping equipment called a Micro Air Street Sweeper will be used for the study. The Air Sweeper is designed for narrow and congested locations such as sidewalks, gutters and bike lanes. It also utilizes different technology than traditional sweepers to control dust in high population areas, helping to keep the area cleaner. 

“A clean and safe district is our top priority,” says Brent Penner, Executive Director of Downtown Saskatoon’s Business Improvement District.

“Downtown Saskatoon’s “Clean Team” is responsible for keeping the public right-of-way looking clean and pristine. Our staff is looking forward to utilizing this new piece of equipment with its broad capabilities as it will allow us to operate more efficiently in cleaning our district.  We’re excited to be partnering with the City on this pilot project.”

The pilot study will be evaluated at the end of the season to identify lessons learned and the feasibility of continuing and expanding a similar model to the other Business Improvement Districts.  The partnership is expected to save the city approximately $20,000 in 2017.

Once again, the City is inviting residents to participate and “Have Your Say!” through the 2018 Citizen Budget at saskatoon.ca/financialfuture. The 2018 Citizen Budget goes live today, and will be open for public feedback until June 25, 2017.

 “This online tool provides an opportunity for citizens to share their priorities and preferences, by telling us what matters most when it comes to the service levels the City provides,” says Carla Blumers, Director of Communications. “Last year we had over 800 people participate and we hope this year even more residents will weigh in.”  

In its third year, Citizen Budget is educational and interactive.  It provides a great opportunity for residents to be heard - and to get involved in the City’s annual budget process. There are 12 categories where participants can decide how they would adjust property tax funding.

“The online tool has investment sliders which residents can select to either maintain the City’s current service levels, increase or decrease them for each service or program,” Blumers says. “As you make your choices, your property tax dollar amount will change in real time so you can see the impact of your funding choices on an individual tax bill.”

Blumers says each year City Council and Administration must make difficult decisions when balancing the trade-offs that need to be considered when increasing, decreasing or providing the same service levels.

“Citizen Budget allows you to see the impact that investment changes in service levels can have on your property taxes.”

For residents who may prefer to submit written comments and feedback on the 2018 Budget, Citizen Budget comment sheets are available at the Info Desk in the lobby of City Hall.

Importantly, the public feedback gathered through Citizen Budget will again be considered by City Council and Administration prior to the budget review in October. City Council also considers other factors for annual budgetary decision making including inflation, the city’s growing population, Council priorities, service level changes and the City’s performance measures.

To participate in the 2018 Citizen Budget, and to also view the City’s informative Budget video series, visit saskatoon.ca/financialfuture. 

Major upgrades to local infrastructure have started in several locations throughout Saskatoon thanks to support from federal and provincial governments as part of the 2017 Water Main, Sanitary Lining and Lead Water Pipe Replacement Initiative.

 “Modern, efficient water, wastewater and storm water management infrastructure is essential to the well-being of Canadian families and creates economic growth and middle-class jobs,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “We are pleased to invest in these improvements in Saskatoon to improve the reliability of its systems while protecting the environment.”

This year, close to 1,000 properties in five neighbourhoods in Saskatoon will see extensive water main replacement and sewer lining work, including the replacement of over 900 lead water service pipes to homes and businesses.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a role in improving Saskatoon’s water infrastructure by investing up to $7.9 million toward this initiative and working with our federal and municipal partners to improve service for our citizens,” said the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations.

This coordinated approach to managing underground and road renewal at the same time lessens the impact to residents and lowers the cost. 

“We always look for ways to be more efficient and minimize inconvenience to citizens,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction and Design.  “By combining water main replacement and water and sewer main lining, then replacing road surfaces and sidewalks, we save money and we save the amount of time we’re in a neighbourhood.”

The intent of this initiative is to accelerate short-term municipal investments while supporting the rehabilitation of water and wastewater infrastructure to meet immediate priorities for clean water and healthier environments for communities.

Through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, the Government of Canada is contributing up to $15.8 million and the Government of Saskatchewan is contributing up to $7.9 million toward this overall City of Saskatoon initiative worth a total of $43.3 million.