Winnipeg, MB – As the result of a bridge condition assessment, the Arlington Bridge has been closed to all traffic effective immediately.
Vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, scooters, and all other modes will now be required to detour across the rail yards via either the McPhillips Street Underpass or Slaw Rebchuk Bridge (Salter Street).
We encourage drivers to get onto these routes as early as possible – ideally at Selkirk Avenue or Notre Dame Avenue and especially during morning and afternoon commutes – to avoid bottlenecks at Logan Avenue and Dufferin Avenue.
The need to plan for the future of the 111-year-old Arlington Bridge has been on the City’s radar for nearly a decade. In 2016, engineers identified the bridge as nearing the end of its lifespan and undertook the Better Bridge for Arlington Study. The study resulted in a preliminary design for a new bridge, which was in 2019 approved by City Council for future consideration and placed on a list of unfunded capital projects.
We have since made every effort to keep the bridge operational with annual closures and maintenance; throughout these repairs we have consistently stressed the potential of a more permanent closure at any time.
In mid-2023 we issued a contract for a study to determine whether a long-term rehabilitation is possible or if the bridge should be decommissioned.
The study’s initial bridge condition analysis confirmed that steel corrosion has accelerated in recent years, is widespread, and has progressed to the point where it is no longer viable to make annual reactive safety repairs.
Additionally, supports for the structural steel truss spans are not allowing the spans to expand and contract as required with changes in temperature. Short-term maintenance will be required to restore these supports and maintain structural integrity even while the bridge is out of use.
We will continue the planned assessment to determine whether long-term rehabilitation is feasible. The bridge will remain closed until this study is complete.
Pending the results of the study, we will develop a plan to either undertake long-term rehabilitation or decommission and remove the bridge if required.
In the interim, we will begin necessary repairs to ensure the immediate safety of people and property in the underlying rail yards.