REGINA – The bridge on Victoria Ave east will be re-opened to primary weight truck traffic by 12 am Saturday.
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.”
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“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 manage the risk of the bridge deteriorating further, it will be inspected by both city and Ministry engineers every two months.
Design work for a new bridge will begin immediately and the province will assume 75% of the cost for the new bridge with the city funding the other 25%.
The eastbound bridge on Victoria Ave east over the Pilot Butte creek was originally weight-restricted on July 16.
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