After a delay of about two months, the City of Saskatoon says the University Bridge could reopen by the end of next week. The bridge has been closed since April for construction and based on the city’s initial plan, it was supposed to reopen at the end of June. The city announced in July that it would reopen at the end of the month but it remains closed. On Wednesday, during an update to Saskatoon city council, technical services director Dan Willems said construction on the bridge itself, as well as the section of College Drive between Hospital Drive and the bridge, is nearing completion. While Willems said he could not provide an exact reopening date, he told council he is hopeful the bridge will be open by the end of next week, provided weather conditions cooperate and contractor performance remains on schedule. The closure has been part of a major infrastructure project along the College Drive corridor, affecting traffic flow in one of the city’s busiest areas for several months. Willems also provided an update on construction work taking place on 25th Street downtown. The city is aiming to have that project completed by the end of October, although the timeline remains dependent on weather conditions. Both projects are part of ongoing efforts to improve Saskatoon’s transportation infrastructure and road network.
