Released on July 18, 2011
Construction of the new St. Louis Bridge is underway, following the award of the general bridge contract to Graham Construction of Saskatoon.
"We're excited to see the project progressing, knowing local motorists and shippers are anxiously waiting for the new bridge," Batoche MLA Delbert Kirsch said, on behalf of Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Jim Reiter. "The province is replacing the deteriorating 99-year-old bridge for safety and to support the region's economy."
Work on the bridge's three river piers and bridge abutments is now underway, while construction on the subgrade for a 290-metre-long north bridge approach, which began in late May, continues.
The structural steel for the bridge deck will be erected in the winter of 2011-12, followed by the construction of the concrete bridge deck in the summer of 2012.
The new bridge will be built 1.6 km east of the existing St. Louis Bridge, as this location has the best foundation conditions, the best alignment for proper sight lines, least impact on agricultural land as it follows an existing north-south road allowance and is the most economical route. This location was chosen in 2001 following community consultation.
The project also includes connecting roads from the new bridge to Highway 2 that will be constructed east of the existing highways. The road south of the bridge will continue for a distance of approximately 10.5 km connecting up with Highway 2 immediately south of Hoey. The road north of the bridge will connect to the existing highway about 3 km from the new bridge.
The new bridge will complete the final link in a 683-km-long primary weight corridor from Assiniboia in the south to La Ronge in the north. While Highway 2 is built to a standard allowing for shippers to haul their goods at primary weight (the highest legal weight shippers can haul on a provincial highway), the bridge structure itself is weight restricted. By replacing the bridge structure, a seamless connection for shippers is created resulting in more efficient trucking.
The new bridge and supporting roads are slated for a late fall 2012 opening, pending favourable weather and contractor progress.
For more information on the St. Louis Bridge, please visit www.highways.gov.sk.ca/majorprojects.
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For more information, contact:
Rosann Semchuk
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6815
Cell: 306-526-9345