City to address pending University Bridge closure, construction, which starts on Monday

More details on the closure of Saskatoon’s University Bridge and construction along a corridor of College Drive are expected to be released on Thursday morning.

The closures will affect traffic patterns, businesses, and emergency vehicle access to Royal University Hospital for the next several months.

Read more:

Dan Willems, city of Saskatoon technical services director, is expected to release more details on the construction timelines, the number of roads affected, and the type of work to be completed during a media event on April 2.

Also in attendance will be Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon transit.

Construction is expected –barring any adverse weather or other conditions – to begin sometime on April 6. During that time period, emergency and other authorized Saskatchewan Health Authority vehicles will continue to have access to the bridge.

The pedestrian walkway on the south side of the bridge walkway will also remain open.

According to the city, the two-year, phased approach is “designed to reduce overall impacts,” however those who are traveling through the College Drive corridor west of Preston Avenue, including those who are heading to school, hospitals, and local businesses, should expect delays and detours.

The construction is being coordinated with several related projects including the Link bus rapid transit system, water main work on 25th Street from 1st Avenue to Spadina Crescent and University Bridge work on the arches, driving surface and drain inspection and repairs.

The first part of Stage 1 construction is expected to last about three weeks. The second part of the first stage should get underway around the first week of May and is expected to continue for another eight to 10 weeks.