A graph shows hourly use of the Diefenbaker bridge on Aug. 2, the peak day of summer 2019 (council agenda package/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Bump in the road

P.A. waiting for provincial input on bridge toll

Nov 13, 2019 | 5:42 PM

The slow gears of bureaucracy are still turning on an important request regarding the potential for the tolling of Prince Albert’s Diefenbaker Bridge. At the same time council learned of the sort of traffic volumes the bridge sees at peak times.

Over summer the topic sparked animated discussion around the council table. Ultimately it was decided that the city would ask the province for their input on the possible fee for motorists.

Tuesday night’s council agenda package included a letter from the Minister of Highways stating the province was reviewing their request and would contact them when the process was complete.

Coun. Charlene Miller had previously proposed the idea for the bridge toll as a means to fund the city’s portion of the construction of a second river crossing. She wants no private involvement but the province has suggested a possible public-private-partnership (P3) arrangement that could see the city having to contribute a third of an estimated $150 million bill.

Importantly the city also needs confirmation from the Ministry on how, if at all, implementing the toll fee could affect any future funding from the province for important infrastructure projects.

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On Tuesday night, Miller said if members of the public didn’t like her idea, they should bring their own proposals to council.

“It would be great if everybody could come up with a solution, even something different, that would be awesome,” she told the meeting. ” Instead of sitting behind their computers saying whatever they need to say, come up and bring us solutions.”

Meanwhile, new numbers from city administration show that on Aug. 2, 2019, the busiest day of summer, 29,678 vehicles crossed the North Saskatchewan using the bridge.

A previous city document estimated revenue from the toll could be up to $4.5 million annually.

A further report on the tolling the Diefenbaker bridge will come to council in May, 2020, pending the awaited response from the province.

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom