Work starts on Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge

City crews began a major project Monday on Saskatoon’s Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.

The southbound lanes on the east side of the bridge were closed Monday morning and will remain shut down for the rest of the 2019 construction season.

This will allow crews to complete the first phase in a two-part project to replace the bridge deck and asphalt.

They’ll also be resurfacing the ramps over 19th Street, strengthening the piers holding up the ramps, widening the pedestrian walkways and replacing the barriers on the bridge with much taller ones.

For phase 1, southbound traffic will be down to one lane running on what would normally be the northbound side of the bridge, with the other two lanes still used for northbound traffic.

Drivers are advised to either plan an alternate route, or give themselves extra time. The construction is also expected to cause delays for public transit routes that include the bridge.

Here’s a fancy graphic showing lane restrictions for each phase. Lanes will be opened during winter months. #yxe pic.twitter.com/MhrTmfn6S8

— Keenan Sorokan (@KeenanSorokan) March 27, 2019

At a March 27 press conference outlining the project,  Todd Grabowski, the city’s manager of asset preservation for bridges, explained that the maintenance would keep the bridge in good repair for decades.

“The next deck rehabilitation project for this structure will be in approximately 25 to 30 years,” he said. “We won’t need to do barrier work for over 50 years, is what we’re expecting.”

Lanes closed during construction season will be re-opened for winter on Oct. 31.

Phase 2 of the project will begin on the northbound side of the bridge in the 2020 construction season.

—With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan