Saskatoon celebrates pair of bridge openings

The City of Saskatoon marked the completion of two new bridges Tuesday.

Events began Tuesday morning on the Chief Mistawasis Bridge, which connects Saskatoon’s northeast neighbourhoods with the rest of the city’s north end.

The view of Chief Mistawasis Bridge from the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. #yxe #Sask pic.twitter.com/jYnrPAvKyg

— Keenan Sorokan (@KeenanSorokan) October 2, 2018

Tuesday’s opening event was a celebration of Indigenous culture, including a grand entry of powwow dancers.

The bridge was named earlier this year after a process that saw over 400 submissions.

Ultimately, a committee of  First Nations, Métis and city officials opted to name the bridge for Chief Mistawasis, also known as Pierre Belanger. He was a Cree chief who was instrumental in the negotiation of Treaty 6 between various Cree, Assiniboine and other First Nations bands and the Canadian government.

Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand touched on the significance of Tuesday’s event when he addressed the crowd gathered at the west edge of the bridge.

“142 years later, I guarantee you if everybody looks up, he’s smiling down,” Arcand said of Chief Mistawasis’ vision when Treaty 6 was negotiated. “And he’s saying ‘This is what is was supposed to be.'”

Premier Scott Moe had Tuesday circled on his calendar for months.

“Two bridge openings in one day,” Moe said. “I think even when you’re the mayor of what is known as the City of Bridges, this has to rank as a pretty good day

Moe called Saskatoon one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and pointed to the importance of making sure infrastructure aligns with Saskatchewan’s expanding cities.

“Now with a population nearing 300,000 people,” Moe said. “A population that — and this is important to note — the population of this city grows each and every year by about the (population) of the city of Humboldt.

Mayor Charlie Clark rejoiced the effect a new bridge will have on traffic in Saskatoon.

“It’s a very exciting day for our city,” he said. “This creates an outlet, it creates a mechanism and a way for people to move more easily between the north and the east.”

“It gives time back to people to spend with their families.”

Block party kicks off Traffic Bridge opening

As many as 1,000 people gathered Tuesday afternoon for a block party-style event to celebrate the completion of the Traffic Bridge.

The event saw crowds walk from at either end of the bridge, then meet in the middle to celebrate with music, food trucks and entertainment.

Mayor Charlie Clark leads the first foot steps on the new Traffic Bridge. #yxe #Sask pic.twitter.com/0uP5FYHkWl

— Keenan Sorokan (@KeenanSorokan) October 2, 2018

The Traffic Bridge and the Chief Mistawasis Bridge were bundled together, along with extensions to McOrmond Drive and Central Avenue to form the Bridging to Tomorrow Project. The $238.8 million project saw the federal government commit to cover up to 25 per cent of eligible costs, with the province contributing $50 million. The City of Saskatoon is funding the remainder.

The Traffic Bridge is due to open Wednesday morning to regular vehicle traffic.

More than just traffic:  Bridge to be available for events

Along with its use as a link between the city’s downtown core and the Nutana neighbourhood, the Traffic Bridge has also been designed with gates at either end.

Those will allow it to be closed off and potentially rented out for events.

“When it’s not rush hour that bridge is not a completely necessary link in the city and so there is the room to have it become a place that people can gather,” Clark said.

He said the bridge was designed to allow for flexibility with how it can be used.

“It’s got electrical outlets, it’s got the ability to be, you know, to have people having tents or tables and different things lights and all those different things plugged in.”

Clark said there would still have to be some planning around how and when the bridge might be used for events.

“We’re not looking to have it perhaps as a major rental facility all those things haven’t been developed but things like Taste of Saskatchewan or a craft festival or different events like that.”

—With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan and Jay Thomas