News Releases

The City Hall main elevator located in the lobby will be closed for repair and upgrade starting on Tuesday, July 8 and continuing for approximately twelve weeks (until September 29). The City Hall south elevator will remain open during this time.

During the work period, there will be several ways to access City Hall upper floors: 

• From the main entrance lobby:
• Use the main stairway, across from the public washrooms.
• Take the stairs by the Information Desk which go up one floor to the south wing. The south elevator is down the hall, across from Human Resources.
• If you require use of the accessibility lift to the south elevator, please see the security attendant by the main doors.
   
• From the 4th Avenue entrance:
• This entrance gives direct access to the south elevator and is wheelchair accessible. The south stairway to upper floors can also be accessed from this entrance. Both the south elevator and the south stairway are at the end of the hall. 

The City of Saskatoon apologizes for the inconvenience.

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.

Recent emergencies in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba remind us that disasters do happen. The City of Saskatoon has done extensive planning to develop and practice the protocols and working relationships that will enable us to effectively respond to a disaster. Even with the infrastructure in place, a critical piece of any disaster response and recovery is the delivery of important information to the public in a timely manner. notifynow is one of the tools we have in place to promptly reach the citizens of Saskatoon individually.

Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization will use notifynow to inform citizens about what to do in an emergency that affects their residence and provide them with relevant information when we start working towards recovering and returning to our normal lifestyles. For example, we might need to let you know that your home has sustained damage even when you are away on holiday, let you know if, or when additional landfill space will be open so that you can begin to clean up, or provide you with information about how to access disaster assistance programs.

“No matter how well prepared a community is, disasters are defined as events that overwhelm our capacity to respond normally,” says Director of Emergency Planning, Ray Unrau. “We are asking everyone to sign up for notifynow so in an emergency, we can contact you, before, during or after the disaster, with important information that will help you personally make the best choices you can.”

Citizens wanting to receive important messages from Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization must first sign up. To do that, visit saskatoon.ca, search under “N” for notifynow and follow the links to sign up, read the frequently asked questions or watch an instructional video on the process.

For Immediate Release: July 7, 2014

OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS CIRCLE DRIVE FROM COLLEGE DRIVE TO CIRCLE DRIVE NORTH BRIDGE, JULY 7-10

Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7, Circle Drive northbound median (inside) lane will be closed from College Drive to Circle Drive North Bridge while crews apply permanent road markings.

The work is expected to last 3 to 4 nights. To minimize disruption to traffic the work will be done overnight from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR BRIDGE DECK TESTING, JULY 8 – 10

In order to ensure the integrity and continued safety of overpass structures around the city, crews will be conducting the annual bridge and deck testing program starting on Tuesday, July 8. 

To minimize disruption to traffic, the deck testing will take place overnight with all restrictions lifted by 7:00 a.m. the following morning.

The schedule for this work is as follows:

Tuesday, July 8

108th Street over Circle Drive Overpass

· 7:00 p.m. - bridge will be closed in both directions

Wednesday, July 9

Idylwyld Drive Over 19th Street to 1st Avenue Northbound Ramp

·     7:00 p.m. - ramp will be closed and traffic will be detoured to Idylwyld Drive over 19th Street 

Thursday, July 10

Idylwyld Drive over the 11th Street Pedestrian Underpass

·     7:00 p.m. - northbound traffic will be maintained in one lane 

·     9:00 p.m. - sorthbound traffic will be maintained in one lane 

Spadina Crescent Bridge (near the Mendel Art Gallery)

·     11:30 p.m. – bridge will be closed in both directions

The City thanks everyone for their patience.

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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

For Release: July 4, 2014

SPADINA CRESCENT FROM 20TH STREET TO 3RD AVENUE, JULY 5-6

Starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, Spadina Crescent will be closed from 20th Street to 3rd Avenue to accommodate the annual Pets in the Park event. 

The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6.

MILLAR AVENUE NORTHBOUND BETWEEN CIRCLE DRIVE & 43RD STREET, JULY 6

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, Millar Avenue northbound curb (outside) lane will be closed between Circle Drive and 43rd Street while crews work on a light pole.

The road is expected to reopen by 10:00 a.m. the same day.

VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS FOR CYCLING EVENT, JULY 6

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, the following restrictions will be in place to accommodate the Prairie Grand Fondo cycling event.

- Valley Road northbound curb (outside) lane approaching Circle Drive will be closed
- Valley Road northbound ramp to Circle Drive eastbound will be closed
- Circle Drive eastbound curb (outside) lane from Valley Road to Lorne Avenue will be closed
- Circle Drive eastbound ramp to Lorne Avenue will be closed

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 3:00 p.m. the same day.

OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS COLLEGE DRIVE, CIRCLE DRIVE & CENTRAL AVENUE, JULY 6

Beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, the following restrictions will be in place while crews apply durable road markings.

- College Drive westbound curb (outside) and center lanes from Central Avenue to Circle Drive will be closed
- Central Avenue southbound right turn lane to College Drive westbound will be closed
- College Drive westbound ramp to Circle Drive northbound will be closed

To minimize disruption to traffic, the work will take place overnight, with the roads due to reopen by 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 7.

REMINDER: OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS 51ST STREET BETWEEN FAITHFULL AVENUE & MILLAR AVENUE, JULY 5-6

Beginning at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, the following restrictions will be in place on 51st Street while crews continue to pave the road.

Saturday, July 5

- 51st Street westbound median (inside) and center lane from Millar Avenue to Faithfull Avenue will be closed

Sunday, July 6

- 51st Street westbound median (inside) and center lane from Miners Avenue to Faithfull Avenue will be closed

To minimize disruption to traffic, the work will take place overnight from 6:45 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicate, 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

City crews will begin back lane rehabilitation and maintenance on July 14, starting with Ward 8 and moving through to Ward 1, which is the reverse of last year’s program.  Saskatoon’s network of more than 400 kilometres of gravel back lanes will be improved this summer following inspections and ratings this past Spring.

“Annual grading of back lanes levels off low areas, repairs ruts and potholes, and prevents deterioration,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “In order to prevent damage to private property and for the safety of residents and our crews, we kindly ask residents to remove all obstructions and debris from the back lane.” Residents with back lane collection are also asked to move garbage and recycling containers back onto their property after their collection date.

Improvements will consist of almost 13 kilometres of gravel back lanes undergoing enhanced rehabilitation treatments, which include preventative measures such as trimming of trees overhanging into the lanes. Overhanging trees can cause poor drainage and excessive wet spots, leading to the formation of ruts. All other lanes will be graded and packed as appropriate to improve the condition.

While crews are working in your back lane, access to lanes will be restricted, and for their safety, children and pets must stay at least 15 metres away from equipment. 

Residents affected by a back lane rehabilitation will be notified in advance with more information about what to expect. 

A schedule for back lane maintenance and rehabilitation will be posted on the City’s website early next week.  Rain may cause delays to the program and the schedule may fluctuate as a result. 

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca and click on Building Better Roads, or contact the Public Works Customer Service Centre at public.works@saskatoon.ca or 306-975-2476.

Know before you go! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.