SASKATOON – The provincial government will not support the proposed north commuter parkway bridge in Saskatoon unless the federal government pitches in money.
In last week’s provincial budget, the Saskatchewan government pledged to support the bridge. Funding is expected to be established in the upcoming year with cash likely to begin flowing in 2015-16.
That is, if the federal government steps up with funding.
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“We understand that a new commuter bridge is needed to serve the north industrial part of Saskatoon,” said Saskatchewan Finance Minster Ken Krawetz.
“That’s why we’ve made the promise. We said we’re going to be in discussions with the city, with the federal government, but clearly the federal government has to be a partner in this one.”
The city is hoping to secure funds from the New Building Canada Plan, a 10-year, $53-billion plan announced in 2013 for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure.
A new report from the city says the federal government should decide by the end of March whether to fund the bridge.
If approved, Ottawa is expected to provide around $60-million towards the $250-million project, which also includes a new traffic bridge in downtown Saskatoon.
The proposed north commuter bridge is expected to ease congestion on the Circle Drive North Bridge where an estimated 80,000 vehicles travel over it each day.
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