Saskatoon drivers get first morning commute on new bridges

Wednesday marked the first time drivers in Saskatoon had the option of using two new bridges for their morning commutes.

Opening ceremonies were held Tuesday for the Chief Mistawasis Bridge and the Traffic Bridge, with both bridges then opened to regular traffic by 7 p.m. that night.

The Chief Mistawasis Bridge tying the cities northeast to the rest of the city’s north end was expected to have the biggest impact on traffic.

“It gives more time back to people to spend with their families and it creates more opportunities for investment,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.

The Traffic Bridge replaced a previous bridge that opened in 1907 as part of an agreement to amalgamate the then-separate communities of Nutana and Saskatoon.

Clark said details would still need to be ironed out, but there was potential for the new Traffic Bridge to also be used as a rental space for events.

Bob Lakatos told 650 CKOM that the Chief Mistawasis Bridge had effectively halved his commute from his home in Evergreen to his work near the Costco on Marquis Drive.

“Going back home (Tuesday) it only took me 12 minutes going across the bridge,” he said, as compared to his former commute which he said took at least 20 minutes on the best day, and significantly longer if there was any sort of traffic tie-up on Circle Drive.

While Lakatos said he appreciated spending less time in his vehicle, he said another member of his household was probably even more pleased at his shorter travel time.

“My dog will be happier because she’ll be able to get outside quicker when I get home,” he said.

650 CKOM Traffic Guy Jay Thomas is celebrating the new bridge openings by taking to the skies with Mitchinson Flight Centre for Wednesday morning’s traffic reports – follow @ckomtraffic on Twitter!

Getting ready for the maiden flight of CKOM Traffic in a Cesna 172! I'll be your eye in the sky thanks to Mitchinson Flight Center! #yxe pic.twitter.com/YibucO7aWD

— CKOM Traffic (@ckomtraffic) October 3, 2018