Sturgeon Road Bridge Replacement Project
 Artist's rendering of the proposed Sturgeon Road Bridge with new Sturgeon Creek Greenway Trail |
Project Update - May 2, 2012
Rerouting of traffic to begin weekend of May 4-6, 2012 as construction begins
Starting May 5, 2012 at 7:00 a.m., the east (northbound) lanes of Sturgeon Road from Portage Ave. to Hallonquist Drive will be closed and traffic will be diverted to one lane in each direction on the existing west (southbound) lanes. This will allow for reconstruction of east half of the bridge and road. Once complete, traffic will transferred to that portion and reconstruction of the west portion will occur next year.
One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction for the duration of the project.
View the Traffic Management Plan here.
Project Update - April 3, 2012
Construction on the Sturgeon Road bridge is scheduled to begin mid-May 2012. Prior to that, some utility work will occur in the area. Completion of the project is set for October 2013.
Construction on the bridge will occur with one lane open in each direction to vehicular traffic throughout the entire construction project. Work on the eastern portion of the bridge will be conducted in 2012 with traffic flowing on the western side of the bridge. The following year, construction will occur on the western portion of the bridge and the eastern side will be open to vehicles.
The grade of Sturgeon Road will be raised to accommodate an under-bridge pathway on the north side of the bridge.
Further details with regard to vehicular, cycling, and pedestrian traffic will be provided in a later update.
What is the Sturgeon Bridge Replacement Project?
The Sturgeon Road Bridge, located over Sturgeon Creek, will be replaced in 2012. The project will involve the complete replacement of the bridge and will affect roadways extending from the intersection at Portage Avenue and Sturgeon Road to approximately the Grace Hospital. The project will also involve upgrades to landscaping including the cycling and walking trails within the project area.
Why does the bridge need to be replaced?
The Sturgeon Road Bridge was constructed in 1965, spanning Sturgeon Creek to connect Ness Avenue and Portage Avenue. Sturgeon Road is used by residents and businesses in the area, but it is also a north-south truck route, a public transit and school bus route, and serves emergency vehicles accessing Grace Hospital. As a result, the Sturgeon Road Bridge has significant load requirements necessary to accommodate all these users.
Over the past 45 years, several environmental factors, including road de-icing chemicals, have contributed to the deterioration of the bridge's concrete and reinforcing steel. A structural inspection in the late 1980s concluded that the bridge would need to be replaced to meet current loads and resulted in a maximum load restriction on the bridge of 36.5 tonnes (the approximate weight of an average-sized semi truck). Repairs were completed in the 1990s to extend the life of the bridge; however, the bridge has now exceeded its service life and needs to be replaced to meet current load and traffic requirements for all users.
The new bridge will have a service life of approximately 75 years and will accommodate all current loading requirements. The associated roadway improvements will provide additional turning lanes onto Portage Avenue to improve current traffic flow and accommodate future traffic levels.
Project Definition:
Beginning in fall 2010, the bridge replacement project team met with several stakeholders including representatives of groups, organizations and businesses in the area. Through these meetings the project team was able to share some background and plans regarding the bridge replacement and record stakeholder questions, concerns and insights about the project.
Since that time, preliminary design work on the bridge project continued. The project team presented the plans for the new bridge works to the public at an information event held on February 23, 2011. At this event the public was invited to learn more about the project. Follow the links below to the presentation information from the event including:
- Bridge History and Project Background
- Project Site Plan – Existing Conditions
- Existing Issues and Challenges
- Traffic Conditions – Current and Future
- Average Daily Traffic Volumes – Current and Future
- Sturgeon Road Bridge – Preliminary Design
- Pedestrian and Cycling Facility Improvements
- Landscaping Improvements
- Maintaining Pedestrian and Vehicle Flow During Construction
- Construction Staging and Access
- Project Timeline and Next Steps
After sharing the preliminary design plans with the public at the information session, the project team has proceeded with detailed design and tendering of the work, taking into account social, environmental, economic, land use and transportation considerations consistent with City Council policies and guidelines. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-May 2012 with a completion date of October 2013.
Project timelines:
| Replacement of the eastern portion of the bridge and roadway: | May to November 2012 |
| Replacement of the western portion of the bridge and roadway: | November 2012 to October 2013 |
Project contact:
For further information please contact 311.
Media Inquiries: 204-986-6000
* Top of Page
