Cluster of Saskatoon overpass and bridge incidents under council scrutiny

The Bridge City has been left a bit black and blue after incidents causing damage at four city bridges within a month, including three separate overpass collisions since March 5.

Additionally, the University Bridge had to be shut down for repairs after a fire underneath the Saskatoon span damaged a sewer line on March 8.

Read more:

• Traffic restrictions to be lifted on Monday afternoon after Saskatoon overpass collision
• Company of trucker who hit Saskatoon overpass ‘definitely’ responsible, STA says
• Charges laid against semi truck operator in March 5 Saskatoon overpass collision
• Head of Sask. Trucking Association explains possible causes of three overpass crashes

The repairs bills for the first three incidents – not including the most recent overpass collision, which happened on Sunday afternoon – are estimated to add up to nearly $900,000.

A report from the City of Saskatoon, which is set to be discussed during Wednesday’s council meeting, reviewed the first three incidents in the Bridge City. The report shared information on the repair work associated with each incident, along with the costs associated with the repairs and future actions the city is prioritizing in the wake of the cluster of incidents.

The report – authored by Dan Willems, the city’s director of technical services – noted no injuries were reported in the first three incidents. Costly repairs, however, have been incurred due to the damaged infrastructure.

Collision 1: Highway 16 over Highway 11 overpass

A semi truck entering Saskatoon on Highway 11 while hauling over-height equipment crashed into the cloverleaf overpass at Highway 16 at around 5 p.m. on March 5, causing significant damage.

Saskatoon police responded to the scene, closing roads and interviewing the truck driver. City staff and structural engineers also responded quickly after the crash.

Traffic was limited to one eastbound lane over the overpass on Highway 16 and one northbound lane of traffic under the bridge while debris was cleaned up. The following day, structural engineers assessed the damage and loose concrete was removed from the scene.

Currently only one eastbound lane over the overpass is open to traffic while repairs are being completed. Repair work on the structure began on Tuesday, and is estimated to cost $400,000, according to the city.

Fire under University Bridge

On the afternoon of March 8, the Saskatoon Fire Department put out a small fire on the top arch of the west side of the landmark bridge. The definitive cause of the fire was not found by a fire investigator, though they did find signs of unauthorized people having been present in the area near the fire, which was supposed to be secured after previous, similar incidents.

The westbound lanes of the bridge were closed while damage was assessed. No structural damage was found, though a portion of the sanitary sewer line installed under the bridge was damaged.

Traffic on the bridge was initially limited to the eastbound lanes, but all four lanes were re-opened on March 9. Sewer line repairs were completed on Tuesday.

Final invoicing has yet to be received, but the estimated repair cost is $120,000. The cost will be funded by existing budgets for maintenance activities, the city report stated.

Collision 2: 108th Street over Circle Drive overpass

At around 5 p.m. on March 11, another overpass was hit by another semi truck with a load too large to fit underneath. Significant damage was caused to multiple bridge girders and debris was left on Circle Drive.

Once again, city staff and structural engineers responded immediately after the crash, and traffic restrictions were put in place while the structure was assessed. Engineers confirmed the lanes of the overpass were safe to use, and Saskatoon police officers interviewed the truck driver.

An inspection was completed by engineers on this bridge the following day. Loose concrete was removed, and traffic restrictions under the overpass were also lifted by late afternoon.

Repairs were estimated at $350,000, but that amount could increase depending on the repair designs, which are still being developed.

Not quite water under the bridge

The report outlined five steps for the city to pursue in relation to the three incidents.

First, the report said the city will work to co-ordinate and complete the repairs to the two damaged city overpasses “through various existing bridge maintenance capital projects.”

The city is also pursuing cost recovery for the overpass repairs. Penalties are presently being sought against the drivers involved in the bridge collisions, the report noted.

“The administration’s understanding is that charges were laid against both drivers by either the Saskatoon Police Service and/or the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol,” the report said, though it noted the city does not yet have details about the specific charges.

Trucking in Saskatchewan is regulated through both provincial and federal legislation. Under The Highways and Transportation Act, damaging a public improvement carries a maximum fine of $200 for the first offence and a maximum of $500 for subsequent offences.

Under the city’s traffic bylaws and amendments made last year, however, the city can impose fines up to $10,000 against an individual and $20,000 against a corporation in these situations, with the actual fine imposed by a court order.

“The City Solicitor’s Office will consider all possible legal avenues to collect damages from the individual and/or corporation that caused the damage,” the report read.

The city also has the authority to revoke annual permits when a company causes damage because of poor route planning, the report noted. Daily permits can be issued instead, with routes specified by the city in an effort to avoid further damage.

Neither of the drivers involved in the first two overpass collisions in Saskatoon had daily or annual permits, according to the report.

In the interest of preventing similar incidents, the report indicated that the city plans to follow up with the Government of Saskatchewan on additional legislative deterrents.

Acting city manager Terry Schmidt gave a letter earlier this month to the deputy ministers of highways and government relations, requesting a review of current provincial legislation to help mitigate public infrastructure damage and to pursue an over-height hauling education campaign with both SGI and the Saskatchewan Trucking Association.

A review by the Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization after the University Bridge fire is also set to be completed, in an effort to determine whether further security investments should be put in place.

The city said the review will examine the circumstances around the event and assess future options to “mitigate the risk of trespassing and unauthorized access.” Experts and stakeholders are expected to be consulted during the review, while the city examines potential gaps in security or opportunities for improvement.

“It is anticipated that a layered approach to security measures will be required,” the report stated, suggesting security options such as enhanced physical controls, technology like intrusion detection and security cameras, patrols and administrative measures.

The review of the University Bridge fire will be completed by the end of spring, the report estimated.

Sask. Trucking Association wants tougher punishments

Susan Ewart, executive director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, said compliance with permits needs to be a priority across the industry.

“We want stricter consequences and tougher consequences for those individuals doing that,” she said. “That infrastructure is taxpayers’, right? We’re paying for that, and we want to see this crackdown.”

But alongside her call for harsher penalties, Ewart said there are some factors that could cause the height of an overpass to change. The road could have heaved in the freeze-and-thaw cycle, or new pavement could have added a few extra inches.

“There are some things that can affect it,” she said. “But again, I think if you were getting your permit and you were dealing with SGI, they’ll know what’s going on with the work, because they’re in touch with (the Ministry of Highways).”

Ewart said it is the trucking company’s responsibility to know what its hauling down the highway and how high the load is.

She said she is still waiting to see if the driver who hit the in Saskatoon on Sunday, will be charged.

–with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie