(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Provincial infrastructure

P.A. off hook for future Diefenbaker Bridge repairs

Mar 31, 2021 | 1:32 PM

City council has approved a new agreement that will see the province contribute more money towards the repair and maintenance of roads within the city that connect highways. Among those included thoroughfares are 2nd Avenue W., 15^th Street, and the much-discussed Diefenbaker Bridge.

The new Urban Highway Connector Program agreement replaces the previous ten-year agreement signed by the city and the province in 2011.

The city’s director of public works, Wes Hicks explained whereas previously, the city had covered up to around 25 per cent of the cost of some repairs to the bridge since it was built in 1960, the province will now be responsible for 100 per cent of those costs.

“We are still responsible for the daily maintenance like sweeping, snow removal and power washing in the spring,” Hicks told council on Monday night. “But they’re responsible for all the upgrades going forward.”

Coun. Blake Edwards said that was good news.

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“I’m thankful that we’re getting these costs reduced,” he said. “Because our residents are paying and they’re not the major users of the bridge.”

He continued that he was tired of comments calling on the City of P.A. to build a second bridge when he believed that should be a provincial responsibility.

“It seems like every project that we have in the city and we put money towards something positive, [people say] ‘what about a new bridge,’” he said. “Well, what about a new bridge, provincial people?”

Meanwhile Coun. Tony Head questioned why a second bridge for P.A. wasn’t mentioned in the 10-year Urban Highway Connector Agreement that council approved Monday.

“How does the premier’s vanity project in Regina to the tune of $1.8 billion to build a road that goes nowhere get funded as a necessity,” he said, referencing the Regina Bypass. “While a necessity like our bridge, that would serve the North as well as our residents, doesn’t even get mentioned as a priority… it’s great we’re building a hospital, as they mentioned in election promises, but if we don’t get a new bridge, how will people of the North even access that hospital.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom