Closure of 'scenic route' into Sask. national park could be long term issue: Parks Canada
Damage to a bridge that’s shut down the so-called “scenic route” access to the Prince Albert National Park could be a long-term issue, according to Parks Canada.
The Spruce River Bridge on Highway 263 was deemed unsafe to cross Monday, as the park says high water levels have caused major sloughing underneath the roadway leading up to the water crossing.
The bridge over Spruce River in the PA National Park is damaged due to high water levels, June 25, 2024. (Courtesy: Parks Canada / Prince Albert National Park)
Visitors call the southern Highway 263 the “scenic route” because of its expansive views of the shifting geography of the park, from riverside aspen parkland into boreal forest, the roadway later curving at a height overlooking Waskesiu Lake and leading into the village centre.
Park officials say they won’t have a timeline for repair work until an engineer can assess the damage in the next few days, but until then, they’re playing it safe and considering it a potentially long-term issue.
They’re also unsure what it’s going to cost to reopen.
“This one, just given the complexity of the issue, might be more costly, but we won’t know until we get the bridge actually inspected by engineers with the right set of eyes to look at it through a critical lens, in terms of safety and workability and feasibility,” said Digit Guedo, acting resource conservation manager at the park.
Guedo said park officials first noticed erosion on the roadway about six days ago. As the rain continued to fall, the scale of damage escalated.
“Over the month of June we’ve had record amounts of rainfall,” said Guedo. “Water levels across the park are abnormally high.”
She said the Spruce River Bridge was still passable up until Saturday. By Monday morning, they noticed the base underneath the roadway leading up to the crossing was giving way.
The park expects to have an idea of the scale and cost to repair Highway 263 in the next few weeks.
The high water levels are impacting more than just the southern access to the park.
The Sturgeon River Bridge on the west side of the park was closed on June 18.
Visitors should check ahead and plan their trip accordingly, said Guedo.
“Be aware of those closures, check out the website for more updates as they become available and just plan your trip ahead. It’s tough and hard to see when people, you know, take all that time and effort and then are let down because they can’t get to where they need to go, or where they want to go,” she said.
If you’re planning a backcountry expedition, Guedo cautions you should be prepared in case you get turned back.
“There’s some back country crossings that we just don’t know the state of,” she said.
“With this high water, it could be that some of those have deteriorated as well. So I just encourage people to anticipate the need to have to turn around.”
Guedo says visitors can still access hiking trails inside the southern gate of the park, and visit the scenic Spruce River Highlands trail by taking Highway 2 to the main park entrance and driving through the village of Waskesiu.
The bridge over Spruce River in the PA National Park is damaged due to high water levels, June 25, 2024. (Courtesy: Parks Canada / Prince Albert National Park)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst
As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand.
2 teenagers arrested, 1 suspect at-large after attack involving bear spray, machete
A pair of teenaged boys have been charged with aggravated assault after police said they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday evening.
Possible explosion at Metro Vancouver strip mall under investigation
Police and firefighters were called to the scene of a potential explosion at a Metro Vancouver strip mall Sunday morning.
A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179
A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said.
Recognize the name Jolt Cola? The 1980s soda aims to make a comeback — this time with even more caffeine
Jolt Cola, the soda brand that gained attention in the 1980s for offering “all the sugar and twice the caffeine,” is heading back to stores in 2025. This time, it’s promising more than twice the original caffeine content.
Looking to get rid of your Christmas tree? This farm will feed it to its goats
Now that the holidays are almost over, many people may be looking to dispose of their Christmas tree. One farm in Massachusetts is letting people do just that, in a furry and eco-friendly way.
'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors
Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday.
4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal
The earth moved in the Maniwaki area this Sunday morning. No damage was reported after a 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Maniwaki area in western Quebec, according to Earthquakes Canada.
'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office
Two family films dominated the holiday box office this week, with 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' winning the three-day weekend over 'Mufasa' by a blue hair.