News Releases

A section of the walking path southwest of the site of the future Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan in River Landing will be closed on Thursday, March 13 until summer 2015 due to the Gallery construction.

The closure is necessary because the area is needed for temporary construction supports for the 3rd floor gallery building overhang and ground drilling equipment. The supports will create a platform for the structure steel and concrete, while it is being assembled and the concrete is curing. This will take at least six months. These supports will then be removed, but the fence will still remain for safety, as construction work continues in the area. (Click here for a map of the location).

Signs will be in place directing pedestrians and cyclists to alternate routes.

The MVA trail connections under the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge and River Landing remain open.  Access is also available along the Riverfront pathway.

Upcoming Closures:

- Starting in May, the walking path from 2nd Avenue/Spadina Crescent heading west will be closed until summer 2015.  This is to accommodate ground drilling, glazing, paneling, and deck materials that will be installed along south side of the Gallery. The equipment and staging materials require a safe space to operate.
- The west half of the 2nd Avenue/Spadina Crescent roundabout roadway directly adjacent to the Remai construction site will be temporarily closed intermittently throughout summer 2014.  

Announcements for these upcoming closures will be issued closer to the date, as the schedule is confirmed. 

The City thanks everyone for their patience and cooperation with these closures. 

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.

Over the next several days, City and contract crews will be out in full force grading streets by neighbourhood, clearing ruts and uncovering catch basins as a proactive approach to prepare for a smooth spring melt.  This will be an accelerated version of the January City-Wide Snow Grading program, when 16 neighbourhoods were graded until the extreme cold weather made it impossible to continue. 

Graders are in the following neighbourhoods today: College Park, College Park East, Confederation Park and Dundonald.  

City roadway inspectors have been monitoring streets throughout all areas of the city and, while there is little risk of deep ruts developing, the snow is thick enough on some streets to make it difficult for vehicles to maneuver.   

The timing is perfect for a full-force attack on streets that weren't yet graded this year.  The long-term forecast for warm weather will keep the snow and ice soft and easier to manage, plus graders will uncover accessible catch basins to improve drainage as the snow is melting.  This grading, along with the January grading performed on residential streets, will not only prevent dangerous ruts, it will speed up the drying process within the driving lanes.  

Grading snow from the driving lanes will also help reduce the standing water on the roadway which can seep into cracks in the asphalt and create potholes.  With less moisture on the roads, the potential for potholes is less. 

What about parking signs, vehicle towing and snow removal?
The short answer is: these will not occur.  In order to take full advantage of the warm weather and complete as many streets as soon as possible, we need to begin the program immediately.  The process of using the high-visibility yellow “No Parking” sandwich boards to reduce vehicles on the street will be abandoned during this accelerated program.  Graders will go around parked vehicles.  The snow will be pushed to the side of the road into windrows, keeping catch basins clear and maximizing on-street parking where possible.  Snow will not be removed and hauled away.  

Only select neighbourhoods will have parking enforcement over the next two days due the narrow streets, and dense on-street parking.  These are: Varsity View (Avenues) on Wednesday, March 12; and Mayfair (Avenues) on Thursday, March 13.  To avoid a ticket on these Avenues and being relocated, vehicles must be removed by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day where “No Parking” signs are posted. 

This winter, with some funding from the dedicated road levy, snow grading and removal efforts were increased along priority streets, in the business improvement districts, industrial areas, and narrow, high density residential streets.  These proactive snow management activities on Saskatoon streets this winter benefit us in more ways than one.  With less snow on our streets to melt during warm weather, there are fewer chances for ponding.  The snow piled into windrows will allow that snow to melt slowly, reducing the ponding around catch basins.  In addition, grading the snow into windrows will remove a lot of sand that would otherwise collect in the driving lanes of the streets.  This will also help to improve the spring street sweep program.  

During the accelerated snow grading, many other roadway programs will continue such as: regular salting/sanding as required; pothole patching with cold mix asphalt; snow grading on severely rutted streets; defrosting catch basins that are causing large puddles; maintenance of utility cuts (gravel areas) until permanent asphalt patching can occur; snow removal on high-traffic priority streets at night; and sidewalk/pathway snow clearing. 

City-Wide Snow Grading schedules and information is available on the website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/snow.  Follow our social media channels for updates.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) Recreation & Sport Division reminds residents that the last day to take advantage of the special Family Fun Pack promotion is Sunday, March 16, 2014. 

Family Fun Packs were launched on Family Day as a limited time promotion especially for families.  The packs provide unbeatable savings on admissions to the City’s most popular family attractions, including:

  •  three family passes to any indoor Leisure Centre;
  •  two family passes to a public skating session; 
  •   one family pass to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo; and
  •  three family passes to any outdoor pool.

Family Fun Packs will be available for sale for six more days at any of the six indoor Leisure Centres for the discounted price of $100 plus GST ($137 value). 

Families can also take advantage of Recreation & Sport’s great year-round admission options and save money by purchasing Family Bulk Tickets, Family LeisureCards, or the new 2-Week Family Trial Passes. 

For more information on Family Fun Packs and more, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisure.

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.

With warmer weather, crews are monitoring the snow melt and addressing streets where drainage issues are starting to occur.  Because of the extra snow removal efforts throughout the winter, high-traffic streets are melting and draining well. Two graders are assigned to this during the day.
Scheduled snow grading continues on streets that are narrow and at risk for developing ruts.  This has been ongoing for several weeks and is evident with very few rutted streets. Graders will be in Varsity View neighbourhood – on Streets only, today, March 10 and will be in Mayfair neighbourhood – on Avenues only - on Tuesday. No Parking signs are posted, indicating when and where the snow grading will occur. Find Snow Grading for Rut Removal schedule and information on our website.  Snow Grading will reduce the snow pack and ruts, pushing the snow into windrows along the curb. This snow will not be removed. If you would like to report a severely rutted street, visit Report a Rut – Online Form. 
Snow removal continues in the evening along priority streets; along with sanding as required when the temperature drops in the evening. Maintenance of utility cuts are being performed throughout the days as required.  
Work Occurring Today - Daytime
General
6  COS graders – Snow Grading for rut removal in Varsity View – on Streets only,
2 graders – Monitoring utility cuts, and addressing rut and drainage issues,
4 sanders – 1 in each quadrant of the city
Sidewalks/Pathways
4 trackless snow plows – clearing their routes, clearing bridge walkways
Work Scheduled for this Evening
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 semi-trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Galloway Road
- Stonebridge Common
- Victor Road
Sanding
4 sanders - 2 on each side of the city
Work Scheduled for Tomorrow
General
6  COS graders – Snow Grading for rut removal in Mayfair – on Streets only
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 semi-trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Berini Drive from Attridge Drive to Gray Avenue,
- Gray Avenue from Central Avenue to Berini Drive
Activities Completed Yesterday
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 tri-axle trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Cornish Road from Stonebridge Boulevard to MacInnes Street  – 100% complete,
- MacInnes Street from Gordon Road to Cornish Road  - 100% complete,
- Galloway Road – 80% complete,
- Stonebridge Common – 80% complete 
Sanding
4 sanders – 2 on each side of the city 
Thank you to everyone for your patience and remember to please watch for crews and equipment on the road. Slow down and keep 15 metres behind maintenance equipment; be prepared to stop; and, if required, use extreme caution when passing.  This is for your safety, as well as the safety of the operators and other drivers.
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.

Brighton* is a proposed residential neighbourhood and the first to be developed in the Holmwood Suburban Development Area. Its boundaries include the Canadian Pacific Railway line and College Park East on the west, College Drive (Highway 5) and Arbor Creek on the north, 8th Street East on the south, and agricultural lands on the east.

The neighbourhood has been designed to be walkable with amenities, transit, and recreational spaces close to homes. It will include a variety of housing, such as one-unit and semi-detached dwellings, townhouses, multiple-unit dwellings such as condominiums and apartments, and mixed-use development combining residential with retail and office space.  Elements will include constructed wetlands, a linear park system, and a complete streets design concept for McOrmond Drive and 8th Street East. Upon completion, Brighton* will be home to approximately 15,259 residents.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed Brighton* Neighbourhood Concept Plan and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners. Details are as follows:

Proposed Brighton* Neighbourhood Concept Plan Open House
Thursday, March 13, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
McClure United Church (Multi-Purpose Room)
4025 Taylor Street East

Can’t make the open house?
Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 13 to 27 to view details of the concept plan and to share your thoughts. 

*Neighbourhood Name Subject to City Council Approval

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.

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