News Releases

Memorial tree positive for DED, City saddened at necessary removal

July 16, 2026 - 10:30am

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July 16, 2026 - 10:30 am

Sadly, after testing positive for Dutch Elm Disease (DED), the City must take immediate action and remove one of the trees along the Memorial Avenue of Trees at Woodlawn Cemetery.

“This is a difficult thing to have to do and an action we have to take with a heavy heart,” says Director of Parks, Thai Hoang. “While any historic elm that must be removed is a loss, this hits a bit harder.”

The positive result came back earlier this week and according to the City’s DED rapid response plan, the elm must be immediately removed.

“The City has taken measures to protect these trees as much as is practical including inoculating trees against Dutch Elm Disease,” Hoang says. “However, that is not a fail-safe and because of the high likelihood of root grafting between trees, the disease easily spreads.”

The Memorial Avenue of Trees in Woodlawn cemetery was created at the urging of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) to commemorate the men and women who had fallen during the First World War.

“It’s not simply a public memorial, but an intensely personal one -- none of these men was ever coming home,” says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien. “There would be no grave here in Saskatoon for people to stand at, no place to put flowers on, but you could have a tree in Woodlawn Cemetery -- growing in celebration of the specific person that had been lost.”

The tree that is being removed is in memory of, “The Officers of the Forever Scotland Camp.” While not dedicated to a specific soldier, sailor, nurse or airman, O’Brien says the memorial is just as important.

“The Memorial Avenue of Trees is unique in Canada, for the simple reason that it still exists,” O’Brien says. “There were at one time a number of these arboreal memorials in many cities such as Victoria, Montreal and Winnipeg, for example, but over the years, they’ve all been cut down.”

The Memorial Avenue of Trees is a National Historic Site. Parks Canada has been notified of the pending removal.

The Parks department will follow the direction of City Council in 1922 when it promised the IODE that it would replace the trees if necessary. This has been done as trees have previously died from drought or other issues.

Residents can take a few simple actions to help prevent the spread of DED by:

Not storing, transporting, selling, purchasing or burning elm wood or branches at any time. These actions are illegal.

Not pruning elm trees during the provincial pruning ban from April 1 to August 31. Pruning during this time attracts elm bark beetles, which can spread the disease to healthy trees.

Disposing of all elm wood immediately at the City Landfill, where disposal is free.

Do not take elm wood to the Compost Depot or place it in your green bin.

For more information about DED and to learn how to recognize the warning signs, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

Circle Drive closures for road patching this weekend

July 16, 2026 - 9:00am

TC26-12194

July 16, 2026 - 9:00 am

Various Circle Drive lanes will have closures and restrictions for road patching on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026. Detour signs will be in place to guide motorists around the event area. The City thanks everyone for their patience. The closures will be as follows:

Circle Drive S to Lorne Avenue ramp
All day on Saturday, July 18
Lorne Avenue westbound ramp to Circle Drive S
All day on Sunday, July 19

Closure end times are barring any unforeseen circumstances. Rain is forecasted for this weekend and could impact closure end times depending on severity.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

Read the Daily Road Report for a full list of construction projects on priority one roads.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Daily Road Report - July 16

July 15, 2026 - 3:00pm

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July 15, 2026 - 3:00 pm

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

2ND AVE N SB CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Container removal)
Start: July 16, 5:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E SB CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Sidewalk repair)
Start: July 16, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

AVE P N NB & WB PARKING LANES & SIDEWALKS CLOSED AT 31ST ST W
(Traffic calming)
Start: July 16, 7:00 a.m. End: July 22, 5:00 p.m.

AVE P N NB & WB PARKING LANES & SIDEWALKS CLOSED AT FAULKNER CRES
(Traffic calming)
Start: July 16, 7:00 a.m. End: July 22, 5:00 p.m.

TAYLOR ST E EB CLOSED FROM MELROSE AVE TO VICTORIA AVE
(Road patching)
Start: July 16, 9:00 a.m. End: July 16, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

CIRCLE DR S EB & WB CURB LANES CLOSED FROM SPADINA CRES W TO LORNE AVE
(Overnight bridge washing)
Start: July 15, 8:00 p.m. End: July 16, 6:00 a.m.

ATTRIDGE DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM NELSON RD TO FORESTRY FARM PARK DR
(Overnight road resurfacing)
Two-way traffic in EB lanes
Start: July 14, 7:00 p.m. End: July 16, 6:00 a.m.

TAYLOR ST E EB FROM SLIMMON RD TO ROSEWOOD GATE N
(Road microsurfacing)
Full closure EB at Slimmon Rd
Start: July 15, 7:00 a.m. End: July 16, 7:00 a.m.

20TH ST W WB PARKING & CURB LANE CLOSURE AT AVE B S
(Streetscaping)
Start: June 8, 7:00 a.m. End: July 16, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E SB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM PRESTON AVE N TO COLLEGE DR
(Overnight road resurfacing)
Start: July 15, 7:00 p.m. End: July 17, 6:00 a.m.

MCKERCHER DR NB PARKING & CURB LANES CLOSED FROM HOLLAND RD TO 8TH ST E
(Road work)
Start: July 1, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 4:00 p.m.

20TH ST W WB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE S TO IDYLWYLD DR S
(Man hole repair)
Start: March 9, 9:00 a.m. End: July 17, 4:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB/WB UNIVERSITY BRIDGE
(College Dr Link Construction)
Closure of College Dr includes a full closure of the University Bridge at Spadina Cr E
Start: April 6, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

25TH ST E WB CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE N TO 1ST AVE N
(SL&P work)
Two-way traffic in EB lanes
Start: June 15, 9:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST W CURB LANE CLOSURES AT AVE H S
(Streetlight maintenance)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

22ND ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM AVE C S TO IDYLWYLD DR S
(Riversdale water main upgrades and streetscaping)
Start: June 29, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM COLUMBIAN PL TO AVE M S
(Traffic calming)
Start: July 8, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

2ND AVE S NB & SB CLOSED FROM 19TH ST E TO SAUNDERS PL
(Crane hoist)
Start: July 13, 6:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST EB & WB CLOSED FROM PORTAGE AVE TO JASPER AVE S
(Construction)
Start: July 15, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

WANUSKEWIN RD NB & SB CLOSED FROM ARTHUR ROSE AVE TO MARQUIS DR E
(Construction)
Start: April 27, 7:00 a.m. End: July 20, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST E EB LEFT TURN AND MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR E TO ACADIA DR & FROM ACADIA DR TO MOSS AVE
(Overnight drilling)
Start: July 14, 7:00 p.m. End: July 21, 6:00 a.m.

ACADIA DR SB CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO HIGHLANDS CRES
(Overnight drilling)
Start: July 14, 7:00 p.m. End: July 21, 6:00 a.m.

20TH ST W WB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM AVE S S TO AVE T S
(Concrete & landscaping work)
Start: June 25, 7:00 a.m. End: July 22, 5:00 p.m.

12TH ST E EB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM BROADWAY AVE TO DUFFERIN AVE
(Sewer work)
Start: May 29, 7:00 a.m. End: July 24, 5:00 p.m.

115TH ST E EB ROAD CLOSED FROM FOREST DR TO BERINI DR
(Construction)
Start: July 14, 7:00 a.m. End: July 27, 5:00 p.m.

PRESTON AVE N SB FROM 14TH ST E TO MAIN ST
(Link Station Construction)
Two-way traffic in the NB lanes
Start: July 6, 7:00 a.m. End: July 31, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE N NB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(Building construction)
Start: June 15, 8:00 a.m. End: July 31, 5:00 p.m.

KENSINGTON BLVD CLOSED AT ELLS CRES
(Sewer work)
Start: July 7, 8:00 a.m. End: August 7, 5:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E NB REDUCED LANE WIDTH AT 25TH ST E
(Construction)
Start: April 28, 7:00 a.m. End: August 8, 5:00 p.m.

4TH AVE N NB & SB CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(Water main work)
Start: June 29, 7:00 a.m. End: August 23, 5:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB/WB FROM HOSPITAL DR TO CUMBERLAND AVE N
(Link College Dr Construction)
Two-way traffic in the EB lanes
Start: July 9, 7:00 a.m. End: August 28, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE N SB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM 42ND A ST E TO CIRCLE DR E
(Building construction)
Start: May 1, 8:00 a.m. End: October 1, 5:00 p.m.

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

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Daily Road Report - July 15

July 14, 2026 - 3:00pm

TC26-12200

July 14, 2026 - 3:00 pm

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

8TH ST E EB CURB LANE & SB ROAD CLOSED AT CUMBERLAND AVE S
(Link construction)
Start: July 15, 5:00 a.m. End: July 15, 8:00 a.m.

3RD AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Water main & storm drain work)
Start: July 15, 7:00 a.m. End: July 15, 5:00 p.m.

TAYLOR ST E WB ROAD CLOSED FROM HEROLD RD TO ROSEWOOD GATE N
(Road paving)
Two-way traffic maintained in EB lanes
Start: July 15, 7:00 a.m. End: July 16, 5:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST EB & WB CLOSED FROM PORTAGE AVE TO JASPER AVE S
(Construction)
Start: July 15, 7:00 a.m. End: July 17, 5:00 p.m.

ATTRIDGE DR WB LEFT TURN LANE CLOSED AT CIRCLE DR E RAMP
(Ramp work)
Start: July 15, 9:00 a.m. End: July 15, 1:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N WB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED AT 36TH ST W
(Sewer work)
Start: July 15, 9:00 a.m. End: July 15, 3:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E SB LEFT LANE CLOSED FROM PRESTON AVE N TO COLLEGE DR
(Overnight road resurfacing)
Start: July 15, 7:00 p.m. End: July 17, 6:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR S EB & WB CURB LANES CLOSED FROM SPADINA CRES W TO LORNE AVE
(Overnight bridge washing)
Start: July 15, 8:00 p.m. End: July 16, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE EB & WB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED
(Overnight bridge washing)
Start: July 14, 8:00 p.m. End: July 15, 6:00 a.m.

20TH ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM COLUMBIAN PL TO AVE M S
(Traffic calming)
Start: July 8, 7:00 a.m. End: July 15, 5:00 p.m.