A sign points to the Refresh Inn and Suites hotel on College Drive.

Gord Hirschfeld, owner of the Refresh Inn and Suites on College Drive, said this is one of several closures he's experienced as a business owner on that road in the past two decades. (Libby Gray/650 CKOM)

University Bridge closure has Saskatoon business owner concerned

By Libby Gray Apr 6, 2026 | 7:01 PM

A months-long construction project just checked in on College Drive and University Bridge, but a hotel owner in the area is not excited about the long-term stay.

Gord Hirschfeld has owned businesses on College Drive for the past two decades, including the Refresh Inn and Suites.

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“I’ve rolled with the punches for 20 years,” Hirschfeld said. “I’m always positive … and my outlook is optimistic.”

Closures over the past decade have impacted Hirschfeld’s business differently.

He said some have led to a loss of income. During others, though, he has been able to avoid losing business because his hotel is so close to Royal University Hospital and the University of Saskatchewan.

He said guests have sometimes found his location more convenient because they can walk to those destinations, rather than navigate the traffic and closures if they are coming from another part of the city.

The negative, however, can be loss of parking and limited access for customers, as well as closures of the street and sidewalk directly in front of his business.

Coming up on his the busy summer season, Hirschfeld is worried about the months-long closure anticipated by the city for University Bridge and the College Drive area.

“We remain quite busy now,” Hirschfeld said, “but only time will tell whether this University Bridge and College Drive shutdown will affect us really greatly.”

He said the effect of construction work on College Drive and University Bridge last summer fell on his shoulders to deal with, resulting in him paying to bringing in a second water line for about two months.

Hirschfeld said when he initially raised concerns about the issue to the city about that project impacting his business, he received an unhelpful response.

“We rolled with it and we had a really busy summer last summer, even with part of College Drive shut down,” Hirschfeld said.

About a decade ago, the owner recalled another major closure in the area that hit his business hard.

“It’s a full inconvenience,” Hirschfeld shared. “It always worries me and it’s also financially stressful.”

Hirschfeld is frustrated with how the City of Saskatoon handles major construction projects when it comes to communicating with businesses.

He said the city has been difficult to work with when it comes to traffic closures in the College Drive area.

“We don’t get a whole bunch of support from the city,” Hirschfeld said. “They just go ahead and shut things down.”

Hirschfeld noted frustration about lack of notice from the city and poor correspondence with him when he has raised concerns in the past. Hirschfeld said he received less than two weeks notice about this months-long University Bridge closure.

“If there were any kind of businesses struggling on College Drive, they’re going to really hurt or go under because of this,” he commented.

Hirschfeld would like to see the city consider implementing a tax break for businesses in areas significantly affected by these major closures, particularly small and medium locally-owned businesses.

With the closure of University Bridge now underway, Hirschfeld assured customers that his hotel will remain “100 per cent open, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.”

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