News Releases

ONGOING
24TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED AT 3RD AVE N
(Cable maintenance)
Start: January 21, 9:00 a.m. End: January 27, 6:00 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon has awarded the contract for the new Civic Operations Centre (COC) to Integrated Team Solutions (ITS), establishing the City’s first Public-Private Partnership (P3).

“The procurement process was highly competitive and the savings were even greater than we anticipated,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities. “The City budgeted $185 million for capital and maintenance/operating costs over 25 years; the submission from ITS came in $25 million under budget at $160 million. In addition, the Federal Government will also contribute approximately $38.5 million to the project through the P3 Canada Fund.”

The COC will be developed in phases, co-locating the new Saskatoon Transit Operations Facility and the City’s first Snow Management Facility. The new site located in Saskatoon’s southwest quadrant, will provide direct access to Circle Drive South Bridge which will allow the City to move equipment, materials and vehicles more efficiently around the city.

The facility will have room to store 224 City buses with capacity for future fleet growth. Among the features will be administrative offices, fare collection, fueling, wash lanes, maintenance bays and inspections pits. Relocating Saskatoon Transit from Caswell Hill removes an industrial use from a residential neighbourhood. The Snow Management Facility will have the capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow and will feature a meltwater collection site where the environmental safety of meltwater can be monitored prior to release into the storm sewer system. The COC also allows for the addition of other civic departments and services in the future.

ITS, a consortium comprised of EllisDon Capital Inc., Fengate Capital, Kasian Architecture, EllisDon Corporation and Cofely Services Inc., will design, build, finance and maintain both facilities at the COC for 25 years. At all times, the City retains full ownership of both facilities and will continue to operate day-to-day activities.

“ITS is excited to be partnering with the City of Saskatoon to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new Civic Operations Centre,” said Danny Giacomel, ITS representative.  We are committed to delivering the Transit Operations Facility and the Snow Management Facility on time and on budget and then providing seamless operations and maintenance of these first class facilities for the 25 year contract term.”

Mayor Donald Atchison commented, “I want to thank Prime Minister Harper and the Federal Government for their commitment to our strong and diverse economy; this operations centre will ensure civic services keep pace with our prospering city over the next 25 years.” Mayor Atchison continued, “The facility will create jobs and contribute to the continued rejuvenation of the Caswell Hill neighbourhood.”

Value for Money calculations show the P3 model is expected to achieve value for taxpayer dollars equivalent to $92.3 million when compared to the traditional “Design-Bid-Build” approach typically used by the City.

“Another benefit of the P3 is that the agreement between the City and ITS is a fixed price contract so the project will not go over budget; the responsibility of any cost overruns rests with ITS,” says Jorgenson. “ITS is also responsible and accountable for ensuring the facilities are maintained and rehabilitated over the life of the agreement, otherwise the City’s annual payments will be reduced or withheld. The risk rests with ITS and not the City.”

Construction is expected to start in Spring 2015 and is due to be completed by late 2016 with Saskatoon Transit moving in, and the Snow Management Facility operational by January 2017.

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.

NEW
33RD ST W EB & WB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE E N TO AVE D N
(Steel Beam Delivery)
Start: January 21, 6:00 a.m. End: January 21, 7:00 a.m.
24TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED AT 3RD AVE N
(Cable maintenance)
Start: January 21, 9:00 a.m. End: January 27, 6:00 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW
5TH AVE N CLOSED FROM 25TH ST TO 26TH ST
(Sewer Connection Repair)
Start: January 20, 7:30 a.m. End: January 20, 5:30 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW SUNDAY
ATTRIDGE DR EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN REVER RD & FORESTRY FARM PARK RD
(Light pole maintenance)
Start: January 18, 7:30 a.m. End: January 18, 9:00 a.m.

SPADINA CRES WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 25TH ST & 24TH ST
(Street light repair)
Start: January 18, 7:30 a.m. End: January 18, 9:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN TAYLOR ST & 8TH ST
(Light pole maintenance)
Start: January 18, 7:30 a.m. End: January 18, 10:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR WB OFF-RAMP CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE TO WARMAN RD CLOSED
(Light pole maintenance)
Start: January 18, 9:00 a.m. End: January 18, 10:30 a.m.

25TH ST EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT SPADINA CRES
(Street light repair)
Start: January 18, 9:00 a.m. End: January 18, 10:30 a.m.

COLLEGE DR EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN CENTRAL AVE & MCKERCHER DR
(Light pole maintenance)
Start: January 18, 10:00 a.m. End: January 18, 11:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 22ND ST & LAURIER DR
(Light pole maintenance)
Start: January 18, 10:30 a.m. End: January 18, 12:00 p.m.

WARMAN RD SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN HAZEN ST & CAVERS ST
(Street light repair)
Start: January 18, 10:30 a.m. End: January 18, 12:00 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The Saskatoon Fire Department has tested the ice on City ponds and confirms that the ice thickness on each of them is more than 40cm (16 inches).

Starting in December, the Saskatoon Fire Department tests the ice once a week using standard ice augers and appropriate safety precautions.

The ponds that have been tested and confirmed to have an ice thickness of more than 40cm are Dundonald, RCAF, “Rat Hole”, Lakeview, the pond at Circle Drive and Clarence Ave., Stonebridge, Trounce, Briarwood, John Avant and Erindale.

The City of Saskatoon believes that an ice thickness of 40cm provides a reasonable level of security to residents wishing to use the ponds for recreational activities.

NEW
5TH AVE N CLOSED FROM 25TH ST TO 26TH ST
(Sewer Connection Repair)
Start: January 19, 9:00 a.m. End: January 19, 3:00 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Online Water Outage Service Alerts are now available 24/7 to notify residents affected by unplanned water service disruptions that require the water to be off for 8 hours or more. These alerts, similar to Power Outage Service Alerts, will now be available at Saskatoon.ca or by following @YXEServiceAlert on Twitter.

“Throughout the year, the City experiences an average of five water line breaks per week affecting up to 25 households at a time, so improving our communication during these inconvenient events will be beneficial for residents,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “A major contributing factor for the cause of these breaks is the extreme weather changes we experience here in Saskatoon. Fluctuating temperatures can cause the ground to expand and contract, shifting the pipes underground.”

Water Outage Service Alerts will be issued when the water is turned off, if there is a change to the scope of the outage, and again once water is restored. Since November 1, 2014 the City has experienced 42 water main breaks, compared to 77 over the same period last year. The 20 year average for the same period is 66.

It is the City’s goal to repair the water line and restore water within 24 – 48 hours.  Once the repair is completed and the water is turned back on, a Drinking Water Advisory (DWA) will be in place for the following 2 to 3 days. This notice advises that there is a risk of water contamination during the repair process, so occupants are advised to boil water before drinking. Residents are notified with a yellow door hanger when the DWA is issued and a green door hanger once the laboratory confirms the water is safe to drink and the advisory is lifted.  The period from when the water is turned off to when the DWA is lifted is typically 4-6 days.

 “The City provides a community emergency water supply trailer within the first eight hours of a water outage,” says Hyde. “The City has six trailers which are prioritized for distribution based on the order the breaks occur.”

This year, all residents affected by a water service outage are invited to use shower facilities at their nearest City Leisure Centre.  The service will be provided at no cost until your water service is restored. Residents can access the showers during the centre’s regular hours of operation and will need to provide proof of address, such as a driver’s license or utility bill, to gain entry to the facility. 

Be prepared.  Every home should be prepared for an unexpected water outage by having a supply of bottled drinking water.  It is recommended to have enough water for a 72-hour period, which amounts to 3.8 litres (one gallon) per person or pet per day.

For more information visit saskatoon.ca or call 306-975-2476 to report a water main break.

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.

NEW
HWY 16 WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CIRCLE DR OVERPASS
(Lamp bulb replacement)
Speed reduced to 60 km/h
Start: January 15, 9:00 a.m. End: January 15, 3:00 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour 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 taking precautions after trace amounts of loose asbestos containing material were discovered on the mechanical room floor at the Cosmo Civic Centre. The heating and cooling systems in the restricted access mechanical room had been under renovation starting in May 2014.

On December 18, the City's Asbestos Management Program Consultant notified the City about remnants of chrysotile, an asbestos containing material (ACM) on the mechanical room floor at Cosmo Civic Centre. The facility's pipes and fittings in the mechanical room had been insulated with ACM.

“It is the expectation that if asbestos is present at a worksite, that it should be reported and removed or shielded appropriately as the work proceeds.  It appears this didn’t happen at Cosmo Civic Centre.  We take this seriously and are continuing our investigation” says Kerry Tarasoff, General Manager for Asset & Financial Management.  “In the meantime, our priority is the health and well-being of any employee, contract worker or visitor who has questions or concerns.”

In keeping with standard protocol, the City has filed a Dangerous Occurrence Report with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety detailing the events surrounding the detection of Asbestos and air quality testing results.

“As soon as this safety issue came to light, we acted decisively and immediately,” Tarasoff says.  “We take the health and wellness of our employees, contractors and the public seriously.  Once it was detected at the worksite, we took immediate steps to protect workers and patrons from any further potential exposure risk.”

The facility’s mechanical room was immediately sealed and labeled to prevent access.

Employees and contractors who may have come into some level of contact with the material were immediately informed and invited to contact the City with any questions and concerns.

Independent air quality testing was conducted in the mechanical room and entire facility, with testing results returned to the City the same day.

Air quality testing results came back “all clear and all clean” for the immediate area and Cosmo Civic Centre.  The safety standard for exposure to Asbestos is 0.01 fibres/cubic centimetre.  The air quality testing for Cosmo Civic Centre and its mechanical room came back at .0002 fibres/cubic centimeter or 200 times safer than the permissible level.

A certified Asbestos contractor was hired to clean the immediate area and safely dispose of any material.

The City has met with employees who may have accessed the mechanical room during the renovation, offering personal support and health information.  City Human Resources is completing and filing Workers Compensation Claims for each employee.

To avoid such incidents in the future, the City is accelerating the Asbestos Management Program.  The program reviews civic facilities and identifies those that may contain ACM.  To date, 49 of 55 buildings have been reviewed.  In August 2013, the City voluntary added the list of all the buildings to the Provincial Asbestos Registry.

Hazard signage will be immediately installed in the service areas of the six remaining buildings and formal inspections are scheduled to follow.

City of Saskatoon facilities, including Cosmo Civic Centre, are safe and open to the public.

If visitors of Cosmo Civic Centre have questions or concerns please contact Occupational Health & Safety at the City of Saskatoon by calling 306-975-3261.  More information on the health risks of asbestos can be found at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/healthy-living-vie-saine/environment-environnement/outdoor-air-exterieur/asbestos-amiante-eng.php.

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.