January 23, 2013

Bridge work progressing

Construction of the eastern half of the new Sturgeon Road Bridge in Winnipeg, Manitoba was completed recently and crews are preparing to demolish the western portion of the structure.

Traffic on Sturgeon Road shifted onto the newly constructed roadway and bridge on Jan. 15, with one lane of traffic being maintained in each direction for the duration of construction.

The demolition sets the stage for the construction of the western lanes’ bridge foundation, superstructure and approach roadway.

The elevation of the new bridge is raised to allow traffic to pass under the north span of the bridge.

The project replaces the existing bridge with a new structure that meets current roadside safety standards.

It also involves upgrades to landscaping including the cycling and walking trails within the project area.

The west portion of the bridge is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2013.

The Sturgeon Road Bridge, which spans Sturgeon Creek to connect Ness Avenue and Portage Avenue, was constructed in 1965.

The three-span concrete bridge has deteriorated over the years, due to several environmental factors, including the use of road de-icing chemicals.

As a result, the bridge was load restricted in the 1980s to 36.5 tonnes, which is the weight of an average-sized tractor trailer.

Repairs were completed in 1996 to extend the life of the bridge. However, the concrete and reinforced steel structure has exceeded its service life and needs to be replaced.

The City of Winnipeg commissioned Stantec to undertake preliminary design, detailed design and construction administration for the replacement project.

Replacement of the eastern portion of the bridge and roadway began in May 2012 and the western portion of the bridge will be completed in October 2013.

The preliminary budget estimate for construction of the bridge project was $12 million and the new bridge will have a service life of about 75 years.

If you would like to see a building report about the Sturgeon Road Bridge, please click here.

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