As the cold weather approaches, road work is winding down in some areas of the project, but work on the new bridge and overpasses will continue throughout the winter.
Crews have finished most of the work on the west side of the new south bridge. The earth berm in the river on the west side has been removed. On the east side of the river, steel piles have been driven into the ground to support the end of the bridge, called the bridge abutment. Crews have also created another earth berm extending out from the riverbank so crews can construct the concrete piers or columns that support the bridge deck. This pier work should be completed by Christmas time if weather permits.
The Preston Avenue South detour opened on. October 26. Crews are working on the new overpass at the intersection of Preston and Circle Drive, which will be very similar in look to the Clarence Avenue overpass, but Circle Drive will be approximately 6 meters lower than it is now. This detour will be in place for approximately one year.
Work continues on the new Lorne Avenue interchange, with the top decking installed and crews are now building the retaining walls. Lorne Avenue was anticipated to be open by late fall, but there is still too much work to do on the roadway, so it will re-open in spring 2012.
Crews continue to work on the new Idylwyld Drive overpass (west of Clarence Avenue). Concrete has been poured on the top deck. Crews are working on the approach roads and retaining walls.
In the northwest area of the project, the new traffic overpass on 11th Street east of Circle Drive is expected to open to traffic in mid-late November/early December. The two railway overpasses in the area will be finished at the same time. Once 11th Street opens up again to traffic, Fletcher Road at Dundonald Avenue will be permanently closed, as the new Circle Drive freeway will pass right through that area.
Spadina Crescent at the new south bridge location is expected to be open early December. It had been closed for approximately 18 months as the bridge was constructed. There may be some intermittent closures of Spadina in the spring to finish up work in the area.
Two-way traffic has been diverted to the westbound lanes on the Valley Road as crews work on the new Valley Road overpass. This detour will be in place for one year.
Our Circle Drive South Project hotline is always open for recent updates and detours at
1-888-851-5303. Or check out the shots on the live web cams at Diefenbaker Park, facing west across the river to focus on bridge work, as well as two new cameras showing the 11th Street work. This is Saskatoon’s most massive infrastructure project, involving a new south bridge, five interchanges, three railway grade separations, and ten kilometres of freeway. The project will be open to traffic by September 30, 2012.
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| Overhead shot of the new south bridge in the summer. |
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