SASKATOON — City engineers and crews from the Saskatoon Fire Department continue assessing the University Bridge's integrity following a fire in one of the archways. As a result, the bridge will remain closed and will not reopen on Thursday, June 22.
However, there is some relief for pedestrians as the pedestrian walkway has been reopened. Nevertheless, authorities strongly advise pedestrians to stay on the pathway and avoid stepping onto the bridge deck. The area is still an active fire scene, with SFD crews working to extinguish remaining hotspots.
At approximately 5:30 p.m., the SFD declared the fire under control. Despite this, they will maintain overnight monitoring for any potential hotspots.
The University Bridge is a vital link between downtown, connecting College Drive to 25th Street. To mitigate traffic disruptions, SFD and city officials urge motorists to seek alternate routes and plan their commutes accordingly, especially for bus travel.
The closure extends to Spadina Crescent beneath the bridge, spanning 24th and 25th streets. Cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians are strongly advised to avoid these areas while city engineering personnel and SFD fire crews remain on the scene.
Motorists seeking access to downtown can use alternative routes such as Traffic Bridge, Broadway Bridge, or the Sen. Sidney L. Buckwold Bridge. Meanwhile, the Circle Drive North Bridge rehabilitation project is progressing, with the westbound side scheduled to reopen this weekend.
During the ongoing rehabilitation of the eastbound side, the westbound side will accommodate two-way traffic. The bridge rehabilitation project commenced in late February and is expected to conclude in October.
For drivers approaching from the east side of University Bridge, Clarence Avenue to 12th Street, the Broadway Bridge, or 8th Street leading to Traffic Bridge or the Sen. Sidney L. Buckwold Bridge are recommended routes. Similarly, those arriving from the city’s west side should follow these alternative paths.
SFD Battalion Chief Sean Thody, who served as the incident commander, explained that the fire suppression strategy involved drilling holes in the bridge deck, as it proved safer than sending firefighters beneath the bridge.
"The challenge we face is accessing the void space surrounded by concrete and other materials. It's hazardous to go under the bridge, so we drilled holes above to reach the void space," stated Thody.
"Old timbers within these spaces are burning. We hope we have brought one archway under control. The fire has also spread to another archway further down the bridge, which we aim to extinguish promptly."
Transportation and Construction General Manager of the City of Saskatoon, Schmidt, stated that their initial assessment revealed no structural damage to the University Bridge and the fire had not significantly impacted its stability.
He added that a detailed review would be conducted to ensure the bridge's safety before reopening. Schmidt emphasized that the current focus, in collaboration with the SFD, remains on extinguishing the fire.
"We have already commenced preliminary assessment on the bridge using the drilled holes. These holes were created to facilitate fire suppression, while one of them assisted us in determining if there were any effects on the concrete," Schmidt said.
Thody mentioned that they suspected someone had been residing under the bridge since they discovered a burning mattress upon arrival. The fire spread to the void spaces beneath the bridge, where a few hidden fires were extinguished.
"A typical household mattress was placed between the higher points of an archway. It is possible that someone was sleeping or staying there," Thody said.
