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
BREAKING N.S. Progressive Conservatives win second majority government; NDP to form opposition
For the second time in a row, Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives have won a majority government in Nova Scotia – but this time the NDP will form the official opposition.
Paul Bernardo denied parole after victims' families plead he be kept behind bars
Notorious killer and rapist Paul Bernardo has been denied parole for a third time after the families of his victims made an emotional plea to the Parole Board of Canada on Tuesday to keep him behind bars.
Loonie tanks after Trump threatens tariffs on Canadian goods
The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020 after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped to the United States once he takes office in January.
'We need to address those issues': Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't denounce Trump tariff threat
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Canada should address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's border concerns in the next two months, before he's back in the White House, instead of comparing our situation to Mexico's and arguing the tariff threats are unjustified.
'We would likely go out of business': Canadian business owners sound the alarm over Trump's tariffs
Business leaders across Canada are voicing concerns and fear over the widespread impact increased tariffs could have on their companies and workers, with some already looking to boost sales in other markets in the event their products become too expensive to sell to American customers.
Biden says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire will take effect Wednesday morning
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday.
Longtime member of Edmonton theatre community dies during 'A Christmas Carol' performance
Edmonton's theatre community is in mourning after an actor died during a performance of "A Christmas Carol" at the Citadel Theatre on Sunday.
Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat?
After U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on his first day back in the White House unless his border concerns are addressed, there is mixed reaction on whether Canada should retaliate.
'We need to do better': Canadian leaders respond to Trump's border concerns
As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatens Canada with major tariffs, sounding alarms over the number of people and drugs illegally crossing into America, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and some premiers say they agree that more could be done.