PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A crack in a support girder that’s more than two centimetres wide in places has led to the partial closure of a bridge in Prince Albert, Sask.
The southbound lanes on the Diefenbaker Bridge were shut down to reduce the traffic load on the North Saskatchewan River crossing after a canoeist spotted the crack last Sunday.
Robert Cotterill says the discovery comes as a surprise to civic officials because the bridge had been deemed safe to operate at current loads following a recent biannual inspection.
Mayor Jim Scarrow says despite the precautionary closure, the bridge’s overall support system is safe.
The bridge is the only way to cross the river in Prince Albert.
A temporary weight restriction on traffic crossing the bridge is also in place, with no vehicles over 15,000 kg (33,000 lbs) allowed.
That restriction may be lifted after an inspection on Wednesday.
Wide loads are also prohibited until further notice.
It’s expected that the partial closure could last for months while technicians find a way to solve the problem.
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