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UPDATE: Damage to Little Red River Bridge results in traffic restrictions

Jun 25, 2013 | 6:34 PM

Traffic on the Little Red River Bridge on Highway 55 continues to be reduced to one lane both ways Wednesday morning.

The restrictions began Tuesday evening, with the Highway and Infrastructure reducing traffic amid concerns that debris gathering under the bridge may compromised the safety of the wood structure.

Highway Hotline has confirmed that two of the north exterior piles on the second pier have been lost because of damage caused by the high river water.

Work crews are on site to replace the damaged piles. Once the repairs are complete, traffic will re-open fully on the bridge as soon as the repairs have been completed.

There currently is no timeline for when the repairs will be completed

Engineers were sent Tuesday evening to evaluate the situation and heavy equipment worked into the evening clearing the debris.

As of Wednesday morning, debris, including tree branches, were piled in the outermost westbound lane on the bridge.

Traffic was reduced to one lane Tuesday evening, but two-way was restored around 8 p.m. and heavy trucks were allowed across.

The collection of tree debris caught up in the bridge's wood supports is the result of higher flows on the Little Red River after last week's record release of water from Anglin Lake.

The high flows coming from Anglin are expected for another week. Adding to the problem is Thursday's anticipated peak of 3,000 cubic metres per second on the North Saskatchewan River.

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