By Nigel Maxwell

Province commits to “life-span” study of Diefenbaker Bridge

Sep 14, 2016 | 7:13 AM

There is no word when or if a second bridge will be built in the Prince Albert area, but residents will at least know how long before the existing bridge crumbles into the North Saskatchewan River.

The province has said it will pay for a full scale engineering study of the Diefenbaker Bridge. The announcement was made Tuesday in Regina during a meeting between the highways minister and the northern bridge committee.

Committee Chair Martin Ring said the study will provide some important answers regarding the life span of the bridge.

“One of the last looks we had, it mentioned of 20 years and that was four years ago, so if that’s holding true than we’re possibly down to 16 years,” he said.

Ring said one of the big concerns he has is the amount of heavy truck traffic that crosses the bridge, and what impact these vehicles have on the life span of the bridge.

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“These are permitted vehicles that the province has allowed with higher than normal weight volumes going across the bridge,” he said.

During Tuesday’s meeting there was also some discussion about funding.

Highway Minister David Marit informed the committee the provincial government would assist with the application process to the Federal Government for a second regional bridge.

Ring said his committee was also told there may be a possibility for the federal government to pay up to 50 per cent of a cost sharing agreement between themselves, the provincial government and the city of prince albert.

‘If we can get 50 per cent from the feds, 33 per cent from the provincial government then we are left with 17,” he said.

Ring described the meeting as “very positive” and said the next step is to hold the province to the study.

“If we find out the life span of the bridge is down to 15 years then that’s kind of pushing the envelope for a second bridge,” he said.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne did not attend Tuesday’s meeting but plans to meet one-on-one with the highways minister later this month

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell