SASKATOON – First was the closure of University Bridge at the beginning of May for a four-month period to carry out rehabilitation work. Now a second major repair project could further hamper Saskatoon drivers.
Starting Tuesday, May 19, work will begin on the cloverleaf at highways 11 and 16. Immediate repairs are required to restore the structural integrity to the ends of the support beams.
READ MORE: Dealing with a closed University Bridge
The repairs are expected to take four months.
“As part of our yearly bridge and overpass inspection program, both the University Bridge rehabilitation project and the Highway 11 & 16 cloverleaf were identified as needing immediate repairs,” stated Rob Frank, the city’s engineering manager for asset preservation.
“Maintaining city infrastructure and bridges is important to Saskatoon.”
Officials said there is no current risk of danger but delaying repairs could result in the continued deterioration of the cloverleaf, resulting in lane closures and restricting heavier vehicles.
A detour plan has been developed to allow traffic movement in all directions and to allow at least a single lane of traffic to continue in both directions for the duration of the project.
During phase 1, two-way traffic will move in the westbound overpass and phase 2 will see two-way traffic in the eastbound lanes.
Officials are asking drivers for patience and to use the zipper merge.
READ MORE: Zipper merge still an issue for Saskatoon motorists
“The traffic restrictions that have been in place over the past two weeks have accommodated construction of those temporary structures,” said Frank. “We know this is having an impact on traffic flow in the area.
“If everybody obeys the signage, in particular the zipper merge, we anticipate a five to 10 minute delay to drivers for the remainder of the project.”
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