The proposed north commuter bridge for Saskatoon is in limbo and a new Traffic Bridge may also be years away.
"Unfortunately the city bridge won't be completed in 2016,” said Mayor Don Atchison, whose 2012 re-election campaign focused on completing a bridge connecting Marquis Drive and McOrmand Drive by 2016.
The city wanted to lump the north bridge into one funding project alongside plans to rebuild the Traffic Bridge, but without commitment from the provincial and federal governments, the bridges likely won’t be built anytime soon.
The city applied for funding at both the federal and provincial levels, but the province said it doesn't usually fund city bridges that don’t connect highways.
“It’s not traditional for the Ministry of Highways to fund, for example, a bridge within city limits,” said Don McMorris, the minister of highways and infrastructure. “Having said that we realize there may be some positive outcomes with this…. We haven’t said yes to funding from the province, but we haven’t said no.”
Atchison said he thought the province helped build most bridges.
“My understanding is that most bridges have been funded with the assistance of the provincial government,” he said. “We certainly have never heard no.”
Atchison said even though the city missed a December application deadline for the bridge, the city is still pushing forward with the project.
“We're in desperate needs of getting this done. People in Saskatoon want a 15-minute commute. They're not looking for a long-term commute. So again, we'll continue to work with the province."
The mayor said the city will look to push the plan for the bridge forward in March at the next application deadline.
