The staff of the Bridge Operations Branch are responsible for the inspection, maintenance and program planning of all bridges; overpasses; underpasses, major culverts; overhead traffic sign support structures, roadside safety installations, and related structures. The Branch is also involved in plan review and approval of private bridge structures, materials research and testing, and asset management.
The Bridge Branch is currently responsible for the maintenance of:
- 47 vehicular bridges over water
- 13 vehicular bridge overpasses
- 54 pedestrian bridges
- 22 railway underpasses
- 1 roadway underpass
- 5 pedestrian underpasses
- 70 major culverts
- 231 overhead sign structures
- 73 roadside safety crash attenuation devices
- 340 roadside safety guardrail installations
- 5 noise attenuation barriers
- 4 slope stability structures
Responsibility of roadway underpasses of rail lines are shared with the applicable rail authority. In most instances, the railway is responsible for the main structure and earth retaining walls. The City is responsible for the roadway, subway walls and associated roadside safety.
Links to other pages:
- Fort Garry Twin Bridges Rehabilitation Project
- Winnipeg Structures
- Bridge Maintenance and Inspection
- Roadside Safety Improvements
- Some Interesting facts about bridges
The Bridge Operations Branch is located at 106-1155 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P1, Telephone: 311
Winnipeg Structures
The City of Winnipeg was founded at the confluence ( Forks) of two major Rivers, the Red and Assiniboine . As the City grew, two railroads, the C.P.R. and the C.N.R. were instrumental in its development. In order for the City to grow and prosper and to unite the communities located on opposite sides of the rivers, it was necessary to construct numerous structures (bridges) to cross the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
As the City continued to grow, additional structures were constructed to either go over (overpasses) or go under (underpasses) railroad tracks and/or roadways.
In addition, as the street network developed and expanded, numerous other structures (culverts) were constructed to allow many of the creeks (e.g. Bunn’s Creek, Omand’s Creek, Sturgeon Creek, etc.) within the City to flow under the newly constructed streets.
Since its incorporation on November 8, 1873, Winnipeg has continued to grow and expand. The inventory of structures has also continued to grow.
The responsibility of managing these structures for the citizens of the City lies with the Public Works Department and, specifically, the Engineering Division’s Bridge Operations Branch. A staff of skilled and well trained engineers, technologists and field staff has the onerous task of ensuring the upkeep and safety of these structures.
Bridges Maintenance & Inspection
A staff of engineers, technologists and field staff
ensure the upkeep and safety of the many structures currently existing in the
City of
Bridge Operations Branch staff is on-call 7 days a week in order to be able to respond to any emergency situations which may arise dealing with structures. They have extensive training in all areas of bridge inspection and maintenance as well as workplace safety.
Staff is assisted in performing their tasks with the latest equipment and computer technology available. The Underbridge Crane is invaluable for the inspection of the underside of bridges and overpasses. Early detection of problems is absolutely essential. The first sign of a problem may not necessarily appear on the surface of the deck. Being able to inspect the underside of a structure is invaluable in locating problems early and initiating repair. With its articulating arms, the Underbridge Crane allows for close up inspection of the underside of structures.
Inspections of structures are on-going year round. Constant vigilance is a necessity to ensure up to date knowledge of structure condition.
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A computer program – “Bridge Manager” -
jointly developed with several agencies across
The program is made of a number of modules - Inventory; Inspection; Analysis; Reports; and Links. It contains a record of all structures. It contains a record of inspections carried out on all structures. It contains photographic images of structures. It enables reports to be produced on the content, as selected by bridge staff. And, through the Analysis module, reports can be generated on the structure condition, optimum rehabilitation programs based on current and optimum budgets. |
A Records and Information Management (R.I.M.) System stores all structure drawings and records in digital format. Over a period of several years, bridge drawings dating back to the early part of the 20th Century have been digitized and are stored in the R.I.M. System for ease of retrieval and use. All bridge staff have access availability on their desktop/laptop computers.
The Bridge Operations Branch “field crew” is an invaluable asset for responding to and addressing minor problems which may develop on structures and which need to be corrected immediately. They are also instrumental in the maintenance of Roadside Safety devices.
UB-50 Underbridge Crane
Roadside Safety Devices
While the inventory of structures has increased, so has the inventory of Roadside Safety devices.
With the release of the “Yellow Book” (titled: Highway Design and Operational Practices Related to Highway Safety) in 1967 by AASHO (The American Association of State Highway Officials, created in 1964) , there has been a focus on the need to protect the motoring public from sustaining serious, possibly fatal, injury when in collision with roadside appurtenances.
Since the 1970’s, the City of Winnipeg has been gradually improving the roadside environment, either through specific Roadside Safety Improvement programs or by incorporating Roadside Safety designs into new or major rehabilitation projects.
Since a considerable number of roadside safety improvements relate directly to structures, the Bridge Branch has the mandate to install and maintain these as well as those located within the City limits.
The most common roadside safety device is a G.R.E.A.T. guardrail. Where the installation of guardrail is impractical, or not possible due to site limitations, the devices used may be Energite barrels or (Guardrail Energy Absorption Terminal) Units. The objective of installing any of these devices is to mitigate injury for motorists whose vehicles may leave the roadway for whatever reason. Guardrails are installed to re-direct vehicles while Energite© barrels and G.R.E.A.T. © Units are designed to absorb the impact of collision and thereby minimize injury.
Standard cross-sections have been developed for new bridge
construction. This is visible in the recently completed
When a structure is scheduled for major rehabilitation (e.g. Maryland Twin Bridges, 2005-2006) the standard cross-section, with roadside safety features, is incorporated into the design.
Roadside Safety is therefore an integral part of new structure construction and major rehabilitation projects. Bridge Branch staff ensures that devices are properly installed and maintained. As technology changes or advances, other types of roadside safety devices may be incorporated into the Bridge Branch repertoire.
Examples of Roadside Safety Devices:
Aluminum Balanced Traffic Barrier (guardrail)
Guardrail Energy Absorbing Terminal (G.R.E.A.T.) unit
Energite Barrels
Noise Attenuation Barriers
Bridge Pathway & Underpass Lighting
Overhead Traffic Sign Support Structures
Interesting Facts & History of Bridges in Winnipeg
1997 Flood of the Century Images:
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Kildonan Bridge (Chief Peguis Trail)
Turn of the 20th Century Images:
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Steamship Alexandra at the Red River Navigation Co., Provencher Bridge in background
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Pumping sand on the Red River, Looking East into St. Boniface
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River Steamer, Regular trip between Winnipeg and Fort Ellice
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