What is the Osborne Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project?
The twin Osborne Street Bridge is scheduled for rehabilitation beginning in 2011. The project extends from River Avenue to Broadway along Osborne Street, and will involve developing measures to preserve and upgrade the bridge and its approach roadways, while taking into account present and future social, economic, land use, and transportation considerations.
These will be consistent with City Council policies such as:
- Aesthetics of Public Works Projects
- Guidelines for Citizen Participation in Public Works Projects
- Plan Winnipeg 2020 Vision
- Accessibility Design Standards - Universal Design Guidelines
- Osborne Village Secondary Plan
Why does the bridge have to be rehabilitated?
Over the years, extensive repairs have been done to the bridge’s concrete deck, sidewalks and median, due to high traff c and corrosion of reinforcing steel from deicing salts. The median deck overhangs are substantially corroded. They have required regular patching and removal of loose and deteriorated concrete. These repairs are no longer effective at preserving the bridge and a long term solution is needed. The approach roadways also need to be studied to see if roadside safety improvements are needed as part of the project. A project traffic impact study will also be done.
The 33-year-old bridge is heavily used by cyclists and pedestrians, so the rehabilitation project also means an opportunity to improve their transportation access and safety across the bridge and within the project area. Although widening the bridge substructure (foundations and piers) is outside the project scope and approximately $17 million budget, the engineering consultants are working on ideas to widen the usable area of the existing bridge without adding additional girders or substructure. Available space in some areas on either side of the bridge could limit widening.
This project is expected to extend the lifespan of the bridge for another 75 years with routine maintenance and periodic renewal.
Project Contact
More detailed descriptions of the evolution and components of the project will be provided on this website in the near future.
For further information contact:
Matt Chislett, P. Eng., Project Manager,
City of Winnipeg Public Works Department
106 - 1155 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P1
Fax: 986-5302
Email: mchislett@winnipeg.ca
Media inquiries please call: 986-6000
Last update:
16.04.2010
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