Saskatoon begins construction on new Traffic Bridge

The new Traffic Bridge is beginning to take shape.

The City of Saskatoon said it’s beginning construction on the first span of the new bridge after Labour Day. The crossing will have two lanes of traffic connecting Third and Victoria avenues over the South Saskatchewan River, as well as pedestrian pathways connecting directly to Rotary Park.
 
The last remaining section of the old Traffic Bridge will be demolished in November. The bridge was originally closed in 2010 after deterioration raised public safety concerns.
 
The new crossing will have wider lanes spanning 3.7 metres for traffic, and 3 metres for pedestrians and cyclists. The appearance of the bridge will be similar to the truss style of the defunct bridge, to maintain its “original heritage and character,” but will meet modern engineering standards.
 
The city expects 11,000 vehicles will travel the bridge every day, with the capacity for 20,000.
 
The project is set to be complete in October 2018.