The city is hoping to begin geotechnical work on eight pedestrian bridges across the city this spring.  (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

pedestrian bridges

Geotechnical work on pedestrian bridges expected to start

Mar 28, 2019 | 8:08 AM

Work is progressing on the city’s plans to replace eight pedestrian bridges in Prince Albert.

City council has endorsed a plan to have an engineering firm begin work on the planning, design, tender and construction inspection of the bridges at a cost of more than $234,000 plus taxes over the next four years. Council is expected to formally award the project at its April meeting to ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. out of Saskatoon to begin geotechnical work this spring.

The city is planning to replace two bridges per year. The current wooden structures are more than 40 years old and in poor shape. The estimated cost to replace the eight bridges is around $2 million.

Wes Hicks, director of public works with the city said now is the time to get started on the initial geotechnical work. City administration is recommending work be done on all the bridges at the same time.

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“The important part here is to be able to get the geotechnical rig into Little Red River Park and into the storm channel, which is park area, before it gets too warm, so that the drilling rig doesn’t do any damage,” Hicks said. “When the ground is nice and frozen now, it’s an excellent time to get in, drill the holes and get out, and there’s no damage to the grass.”

The issue was before council at its last regular meeting March 18, but councillors asked for more information about how the money would be spent before moving forward. Some also questioned the $234,000 price tag for consultants on the project.

“I can’t support a consultant that’s going to cost me the amount of one of the bridges,” Mayor Greg Dionne said at the time.

In a supplementary report to council this week, city administration said the bulk of the consulting fee, or $101,344.55, would be spent this year, followed by $53,575.35 in 2020, $31,477.55 in 2021 and $47,752.55 in 2022.

Some councillors also asked why the previous bridge design could not simply be reproduced. Hicks told councillors earlier this month that no records of the previous designs exist and the bridges were designed in a “haphazard way.”

Hicks said the plan is to make the new bridges visually appealing with a consistent theme.

“It’ll definitely be a newer and more modern look than the wooden structures that we presently have,” he said. “And it’s going to be very progressive and beneficial for the city of Prince Albert … it’ll give continuity to our pathways and they’ll all be much more accessible.”

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charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt