News Releases

 NEW

COLLEGE DR EB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN MCORMOND DR AND MCKERCHER DR
(Guardrail repair)
Start: August 6, 7:00 a.m. End: August 6, 11:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR W SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM LAURIER DR TO CLANCY DR
(Paving)
Start: August 6, 7:00 p.m. End: August 7, 6:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: 22ND ST W EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CIRCLE DR W NB ON RAMP
(Paving)
Access to Circle Dr W NB from 22nd St via Laurier Dr.
Start: August 5, 7:00 p.m. End: August 6, 6:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR W OFF RAMP TO 22ND ST EB CLOSED
(Paving)
Access to 22nd St EB via Laurier Dr.
Start: August 5, 7:00 p.m. End: August 6, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

NIGHTLY: BROADWAY AVE NB & SB CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 12TH ST E
(Fringe Festival)
Broadway Ave closed to traffic evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., and weekends from Noon – 10:30 p.m.
Start: July 30, 6:00 p.m. End: August 8, 11:00 p.m.

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

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED BETWEEN GARVIE RD & AGRA RD
(Force main installation)
Start: July 18, 7:00 a.m. End: August 15, 5:00 p.m.

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.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE IS NOW OPEN
Ongoing work with limited lane restrictions to occur during off peak hours

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 (City) is pleased to announce PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park will open on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at 10 a.m.

“We are very excited that families are now having fun at the brand new PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park,” says Jochen Tilk, President and Chief Executive Officer of PotashCorp.  “We are so happy to see the wonderful new vision for the park brought to life and we’re sure the community will enjoy it for many years to come.”

PotashCorp provided $7.5 million of the total cost of $9.5 million to develop PotashCorp Playland, which includes a Ferris wheel, carousel, and train ride, along with a variety of play areas. The new train, sponsored by Canpotex Limited and Canadian Pacific, is one of the most anticipated new attractions.

“This is a significant milestone - Phase One of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan is now complete,” says the City’s Recreation and Sport Director, Cary Humphrey. “Thanks to our sponsors, PotashCorp, Canpotex, and Canadian Pacific; this facility is a first-class attraction that will draw visitors from near and far.”

Kinsmen Park is Saskatoon’s oldest park development.  It is located on land first purchased in 1903 and was an early home of the Saskatoon Fair and horse race track.  This beloved park will continue to turn moments into memories and will be a true Canadian treasure thanks to its three-star attractions.

“In addition to the new rides, PotashCorp Playland will feature many free-of-charge activities including a children’s play area with water spray features, sand play, and climbing elements, as well as an open park space with picnic tables,” says Humphrey.  “There is also a plaza with a concession on site.”

Parking is available in the larger lot north of the YWCA (off Kinsmen Avenue), in a smaller lot beside PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park, and across the street (next to Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and the Mendel building).

Attraction Features

Rides Garden:  Admission is $2 for a single ticket and $20 for a Play Pack (12 tickets).  One ticket per ride is required for the Ferris wheel, carousel, and Canpotex Train.

• Ferris Wheel:  Visitors will be able to enjoy a whole new view of Saskatoon’s cityscape from the exciting 19 m high ride.
• Carousel:  The antique carousel will bring the park alive with its brightly painted vintage animals, which are newly restored.
• Canpotex Train:  This replica of a Canadian Pacific train, complete with a one-third scale locomotive and caboose, has spacious seating for 44 adults or 66 children.  It will travel at approximately 8 km/h along the new 626 m loop (176 m longer than the old one), completing a full circuit in roughly six minutes.

Play Area:  The children’s play area is free to enjoy and includes water spray features, sand play, and a climbing area.

• Sand Play:
  • Double cable ride
  • Log climber
  • Dome mountain
  • Concrete stepping stones
• Water Play:
  • Water engineering table
  • Long-handled pump
  • Forest fountain spray feature
  • Water scale
  • Jets
  • Climbing Area:
• Hill slide
• Dutch discs
• Pyramid tower with tunnel slide
• Spinner bowls
• Double saucer swing

Hours of operation for the season will be:

• Monday to Saturday:  10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sundays and Statutory Holidays:  12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Grand Opening Ceremony for PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2015, at 10 a.m. to recognize the generous support of PotashCorp, Canpotex Limited, and Canadian Pacific.  Following the ceremony, PotashCorp will provide free rides, community activities and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on the attractions or the Grand Opening, please visit Saskatoon.ca/potashcorpplayland.

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.

The outdoor adult fitness circuit in River Landing will be temporarily closed on August 5 and 6 for repairs to sections of the rubber surfacing at the site.

There are some deficiencies in sections of the surfacing and the manufacturer will be completing repairs as part of warranty work. 

The City of Saskatoon thanks patrons for their patience.

NEW

IDYLWYLD DR S NB/SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM SASKATCHEWAN CRES E TO 20TH ST E
(Guardrail repair)
Start: August 5, 9:00 a.m. End: August 6, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E EB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING THE CIRCLE NORTH BRIDGE
(Street light repair)
Start: August 5, 9:00 a.m. End: August 5, 3:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 22ND ST W WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CIRCLE DR W NB ON RAMP
(Paving)
Access to Circle Dr W NB from 22nd St via Laurier Dr.
Start: August 5, 7:00 p.m. End: August 6, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

NIGHTLY: BROADWAY AVE NB & SB CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 12TH ST E
(Fringe Festival)
Broadway Ave closed to traffic evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., and weekends from Noon – 10:30 p.m.
Start: July 30, 6:00 p.m. End: August 8, 11:00 p.m.

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

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED BETWEEN GARVIE RD & AGRA RD
(Force main installation)
Start: July 18, 7:00 a.m. End: August 15, 5:00 p.m.

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.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE IS NOW OPEN
Ongoing work with limited lane restrictions to occur during off peak hours

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 is pleased to announce the University Bridge has reopened to vehicle traffic four weeks ahead of schedule.

“We are extremely pleased to have traffic moving on the University Bridge sooner than expected,” says Rob Frank, Manager of Asset Preservation. “The near perfect weather and the fact that we encountered no major issues allowed us to accelerate our schedule and move ahead of where we expected to be at this point in the project.”

While more work on the bridge will be undertaken this summer, the City’s priority has been to reopen the bridge to traffic as soon as possible. Some lane restrictions during off peak hours will still be required for finishing touches such as concrete sealing and permanent lane markings. Rehabilitation work will also continue under the bridge.

All Saskatoon Transit routes will now return to normal with the weekend #200 shuttle that ran between the University of Saskatchewan and Downtown Terminal now suspended. Traffic signals that were retimed to allow for more efficient commutes along alternative routes will also return to normal.

Rehabilitation work completed on the bridge included:

• Removal and disposal of asphalt, waterproofing membrane, and top 10 mm of deck concrete
• Removal and replacement of pier deck joints
• Repair of partial depth deck and abutment (substructure at the ends of a bridge whereon the superstructure rests or contacts)
• Strengthening of column and deck
• Removal, repainting, and reinstallation of the pedestrian handrail
• Installation of concrete overlay to strengthen deck and provide smooth driving surface
• Sealing of concrete arches and abutments

The University Bridge will not require another full closure for rehabilitation on the concrete deck for approximately 25 years, however, the City may need to complete a substructure rehabilitation on the bridge's arches and piers in 2021. The City is working with the University of Saskatchewan, Ch2m Hill Inc. and Saskatchewan Centre of Excellence for Transportation and Infrastructure in order to confirm the timing and type of repairs needed.

In an effort to reduce the overall cost of its bridge structures, the City focuses on preservation in order to protect the financial investment as well as maximize the sustainability of the infrastructure. The Bridge Strategy moving forward includes the rehabilitation of an average of two bridge/overpass structures per year. The Ruth Street Overpass is slated for rehabilitation in 2016.

“We thank residents for adapting and being able to reroute their commutes to accommodate this necessary rehabilitation work,” says Frank. “The work will ensure the iconic, 100 year old bridge continues to serve commuters for many years to come.”

For more information visit saskatoon.ca/UniversityBridge.