The University Bridge is closing this morning.
Crews are setting up road blocks in preparation for four months of repair work. Only emergency vehicles, city transit and some school buses are allowed to use the bridge until it re-opens at the end of August.
The 100-year-old structure sees almost 40,000 vehicles per day, and with those vehicles spread out across the city, traffic is likely to be bumper-to-bumper on many main roads.
To avoid headaches, you’ll want to plan your drive before you head out and make sure you know which detour will get you to and from your destination in the shortest amount of time.
Here’s what the city recommends:
- Drivers heading to the University of Saskatchewan from the city’s northwest are advised to use the Circle Drive North Bridge to Preston Avenue.
- Drivers heading to the university from the southwest should use the Circle Drive South Bridge to Circle Drive to College Drive.
- The Circle Drive North Bridge to Warman Road will be the best route for motorists heading downtown from Saskatoon’s northeast, according to the city.
- Eighth Street or Circle Drive, then the Sid Buckwold Bridge, will provide the best access to downtown from the southeast.
The city expects traffic on Broadway Avenue to greatly increase during the closure and asks drivers to only use the Broadway Bridge if they live in the area.
View the city's full transportation plan for the University Bridge closure here.
