News Releases

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2015, road resurfacing work will be carried out on 25th Street at the intersection of Spadina Crescent and the University Bridge. The work is expected to last one day and is weather permitting.

The following road restrictions will be in place:

• 25th Street eastbound will be closed between 6th Avenue and the University Bridge. Access to University Bridge eastbound will be closed.
• 25th Street westbound will be closed between Spadina Crescent and 6th Avenue. Access to University Bridge westbound will maintained, but traffic must exit onto Spadina Crescent.

The City thanks drivers for their patience while this necessary work is carried out.

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.

The City of Saskatoon has invested in a new objective sidewalk rating system which will provide data on the condition of all city sidewalks and steer future preservation, rehabilitation and maintenance programs.

“This is the first time in the City’s history that we will have access to a snapshot of our entire sidewalk infrastructure via an objective, technology-based assessment system,” says Rob Frank, Manager of Asset Preservation for Major Projects. “An increase in funding and an expanded commitment to sidewalks has allowed us to make this critical investment.”

This year, the City’s funding for sidewalk repairs and preservation increased to $2.1 million, from $300,000 just four years ago. A further funding increase to $2.7 million is expected in 2016. These investments will enable the City to make significant improvements to the city-wide sidewalk infrastructure.

Currently, sidewalk preservation treatments are completed on a priority basis. Sidewalks adjacent to roadway surface treatment locations are completed first, in order to rejuvenate the street corridors as a whole. The three main types of repair and maintenance include replacing severely deteriorated sidewalks and curbs, saw-cutting off trip ledges, and crack-filling cracked concrete. In addition, City crews inspect and repair hundreds of reported sidewalk locations year-round to reduce the risk of tripping and injuries from severe cracks, dips and exposed tree roots.

The City currently has an inventory of 1,932 km of sidewalk and 2,280 km of curbs. For the 2015 construction season, the following work is planned:

• 17.8 km of crack-filling
• 6.3 km of curb replacement
• 5.4 km of full sidewalk panel replacement
• 1.7 km of trip ledge repairs

“When the data has been fully collected, we’ll be able to run analysis over the winter,” says Frank. “We expect to be in a good position to present some new options for sidewalk rehabilitation and maintenance in time for the 2016 construction season.”

Data collection is completed via raters that walk the city’s sidewalk infrastructure while inputting data on tablets according to pre-determined, objective criteria set out by City engineers. The budget set to collect the baseline data of the entire city is $350,000. The result of the new rating system will be the development of a cost-effective and proactive approach to city-wide sidewalk rehabilitation and maintenance programs.

A complete overview on sidewalk treatment can be found at saskatoon.ca/sidewalks. 

As part of the City of Saskatoon’s bridge maintenance program, crews will begin repairs to the Idylwyld Drive over 19th Street overpass this Monday, September 14. The work is expected to last approximately five weeks, weather permitting.

The project was designed to minimize the impact to drivers and to ensure traffic continues to move on and under the overpass. The work will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1 Concrete Repairs – approximately 2-3 weeks (24-hour restrictions)

• Idylwyld Drive over 19th Street southbound curb (outside) lane will be closed
• 1st Avenue under Idylwyld Drive southbound curb (outside) lane will be closed

Phase 2 Expansion joint seal replacements – approximately 2 weeks (night restrictions only, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

• Alternating full closures of one of the following:
  • Idylwyld Drive northbound over 19th Street
  • Idylwyld Drive southbound over 19th Street
  • 1st Avenue northbound ramp over 19th Street

Access to Sid Buckwold Bridge will be maintained at all times, however, drivers should expect delays.

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.

NEW

4TH AVE S SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 21ST ST E
(S.I.I.T. staff & student BBQ)
Start: September 11, 7:00 a.m. End: September 11, 2:00 p.m.

PRESTON AVE S NB/SB LANES CLOSED FROM ARLINGTON AVE TO JARVIS DR
(Sanitary sewer connection repair)
Start: September 11, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 4:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: ATTRIDGE DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT CENTRAL AVE
(Jersey barrier removal)
Central Ave NB centre left turn lane closed at Attridge Dr
Start: September 11, 6:00 p.m. End: September 12, 9:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR W NB & SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM CLANCY DR TO LAURIER DR
(Installation of permanent pavement markings)
Start: September 11, 7:00 p.m. End: September 12, 7:00 a.m.

ONGOING

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 11/16 WB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane will be maintained on the EB overpass
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

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 and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon continues to make strides towards diversity and inclusion to meet the Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement.  Progress is outlined in the 2015 Diversity and Inclusion Report to be presented September 14, 2015 to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services Committee.

“Best practices in diversity and inclusion is moving away from simply measuring and reporting on the legislated requirements on representation in the workforce, to focusing on measuring diversity and inclusion more broadly and encompassing all aspects of business,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.

“It is more than just diversity and inclusion hiring but includes comprehensive plans to create a workplace that is respectful and inclusive to all employees,” Gryba says. “In other words, we are working on a strategy to offer an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds.”

As an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the City measures and reports on the four equity groups:  Aboriginal, Visible Minority, People with Disabilities and Women. 

Progress is being made with employment for Visible Minorities with a slight increase in Aboriginal hiring while employment figures for women and those with disabilities remains constant.

- The representation of Aboriginal employees rose to 8.6% in 2015, up slightly from 2014.
- Representation of people with disabilities has stayed consistent at 2.9%
- The visible minority population has risen to 9.6% in 2015 up from 8.7% in the previous year.
- About 39% of City employees are women.

“While there is evidence of progress, further efforts are required to reach a full representative workforce of the citizens we serve.”

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.