Released on July 26, 2013
Victoria Avenue East will reopen to primary weight truck traffic at 12:00 am on Saturday, July 27. Primary weights are the heaviest weights allowed on the provincial highway system. Overweight trucks will still be required to use the detour on Highway 46.
“The provincial government has bridge engineers with specific and significant expertise in managing timber bridges,” Acting Deputy Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Ted Stobbs said. “After careful analysis by these engineers, the Ministry and the City of Regina have jointly made the decision to lift the weight restriction to all vehicles, except for overweight vehicles.”
“Both the City of Regina and the Ministry agree that imposing the weight restrictions were prudent and necessary while we did further investigation,” Deputy City Manager of City Operations and Chief Operating Officer Dorian Wandzura said. “Now that the analysis is done both levels of government are confident the restrictions can be eased and the bridge can operate safely with no risk to the general public.”
In order to mitigate the risk of further deterioration of the bridge, it will be jointly inspected by city and Ministry engineers every two months. In the meantime, design work for a new bridge will begin immediately. The province will assume 75 per cent of the eligible costs of the new bridge, with the city funding the remainder.
The eastbound bridge on Victoria Avenue East over Pilot Butte Creek was originally weight-restricted on July 16.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca
Desirae Bernreuther
Media Relations Consultant
Regina
Phone: 306-777-7486
Email: dbernreuther@regina.ca