Saskatoon delays reopening of University Bridge ‘for near term’

Saskatoon's University Bridge to remain closed to general traffic 'for near term'

Drivers hoping to use Saskatoon’s University Bridge during the busy summer months will have to continue finding alternate routes.

In a Friday news release, the City of Saskatoon says the decision to open the bridge — which has been closed to traffic since April 6, except for emergency vehicles — has been ‘delayed temporarily to ensure consistent emergency access to the hospitals and related services remains the priority.’

“This will undoubtedly cause disruption for people. But these construction projects are necessary to protect our valuable infrastructure,” Director of Transportation Jay Magus previously said before work on the bridge began.

Pedestrian access routes on the bridge currently remain in place.

‘The Contractor has been making good progress, and the city will continue to work with them to complete Stage 1 work on College Drive from the bridge to Hospital Drive/University Drive,’ the city says.

‘Opening the bridge to general traffic requires integration and coordination between the construction work on College Drive and the rehabilitation work of the arch on the bridge.’

The work is part of extensive construction on the bridge, which will repair an archway near Spadina Crescent, which began in April and is scheduled to last until the end of July. The cost for that project alone is slated at $1.5 million.

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A $50 million project to prepare College Drive’s transformation for Link, the city’s upcoming bus rapid transit program, will happen in three phases — first beginning with work from Clarence Avenue to University Drive during the full closure. Crews will then move to the north side of Hospital Drive to Cumberland Avenue and flip over to the south side after that. A majority of closures are expected to be lifted by the end of August before students return to campus.

Much of the work is to build dedicated bus lanes and install Link platforms, shelters and necessary infrastructure such as SaskEnergy adjusting gas mains under the Clarence Avenue intersection and the green space north of College Drive.

More work will continue next year along the street to prepare for Link’s launch in 2028, which will have dedicated bus lanes flowing in each direction along the existing median with transit platforms throughout. Vehicle traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction.

Royal University Hospital and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital — located off College Drive on the east side of the bridge — can still be accessed by patients and visitors by travelling west on College Drive.

The project marks the third straight summer of major work along College Drive.

The City says additional information on when general traffic can once again travel across the bridge will be shared as details are confirmed.