Saskatoon construction season hits final stretch as fall arrives

Saskatoon’s construction season is in the home stretch, with the city sharing updates as it works to wrap up a number of major projects.

With Tuesday marking the first day of fall, the city said it remains focused on “completing as many projects as possible” before the snow flies, bringing the construction season to a halt for the year.

Read more:

• Saskatoon cancer patient fears missing appointments amid citywide construction
• Five-month downtown Saskatoon construction project to cause major traffic delays
• Wanuskewin Road closed for three months as city replaces wastewater pipes

“We know all the traffic restrictions have been a pain for everyone,” Matt Jurkiewicz, Saskatoon’s director of construction and design, said in a statement.

“And while there are a number of projects still underway, we’ve been able to get many key projects completed so traffic can keep moving despite what’s been a very busy construction season.”

City workers will need to move quickly as they install a sanitary sewer at the intersection of Dufferin Avenue and 12th Street East, as the city noted the project needed to be delayed until the intersection of College Drive and Clarence Avenue could be reopened to traffic.

The project means the intersection will be closed for about six weeks, starting Wednesday. A local detour on 11th Street East and Lansdowne Avenue will be in place to guide drivers around the work, the city said. To reduce congestion, the city advised commuters to take an alternate route.

“This job can’t be put off until next year,” Russ Munro, director of Saskatoon Water, said in a statement.

“The new line is replacing the need for the Lansdowne Lift Station. A gravity flow pipe is being installed to replace the aging sewage pump and lift station. This increases reliability for sewer service in the area as this lift station has reached the end of its useful life.”

Munro said he knows detours are frustrating, but the good news is that the season’s work has nearly wrapped up.

Meanwhile, the city said its biosolids corridor project, which involves the installation of new water and sewer infrastructure in the Marquis Industrial area and along the Meewasin trail north of Silverwood Heights, is not yet complete, meaning traffic restrictions will be in place for another month.

“Wanuskewin Road is expected to be closed until the end of October as the work between Arthur Rose Avenue and Highway 11 continues,” the city said.

The closure of University Bridge threw a wrench into many daily commutes over the past few months, and the city said it is working to improve traffic flow on College Drive while work continues on construction of the city’s Link bus transit system in the area.

“University bridge to Clarence Avenue and the Clarence Avenue/College Drive intersection are open, turning movements in and out of Hospital Drive have been improved,” the city noted.

“There will be temporary curb lane closures on the bridge at times this week to complete bridge work. Drivers who do not need to travel to the hospitals are encouraged to keep using alternate routes.”

In the downtown core, drivers will also see various closures on First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, the city said, along with Spadina Crescent, while water main lining and resurfacing work continues.

The city also noted that it is working with a contractor to minimize the speed reductions through the work zone on Circle Drive southbound near Attridge and 108th Street as work on a water and sewer project adjacent to the freeway continues.

The city noted that it completed construction on seven Link platform stations on Eighth Street and Preston Avenue, and wrapped up overnight paving on parts of Circle Drive, Attridge Drive, McOrmond Drive and Avenue C North.

Primary water main work at the Acadia Reservoir has also been completed, the city said, calling the project “a key step in maintaining the water system to meet long-term community needs.”

The latest updates on construction projects and traffic restrictions can be found on the city’s website.

More road closures start on Wednesday

Even as some projects near completion, some smaller projects are just kicking off, with restrictions on a number of major roads starting on Wednesday morning.

The city said Kensington Boulevard will be closed from Ells Crescent to Kensington Lane South for water main work, with the closure starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The project is expected to take four days to complete.

McCormack Road will be closed from Smith Road to Parr Place for road paving starting on Wednesday. On Friday, the road will be closed between Parr Place and Borland Place for additional paving. The city said the closure starts at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and runs until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Taylor Street West will be closed from Kilburn Avenue to Lorne Street for water main work, with the four-week project kicking off at 6 a.m on Wednesday.

Finally, the closure at the intersection of 12th Street East and Dufferin Avenue to allow for water main work begins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, with the work expected to run for six weeks.

“Closure end times are weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances,” the city noted in a statement.

“Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.”