VIDEO: Saskatoon’s Traffic Bridge demolished to make way for new bridge

January 11, 2016
A 100-year-old Parker truss bridge in western Canada had no official name until its 90th birthday, in 2007. Now, The Traffic Bridge – across the South Saskatchewan River in the city of Saskatoon - is no more, after its demolition earlier this month.

The Traffic Bridge, nearly 6m wide and 290m long and took a year to build, and was Saskatoon’s first bridge across the river when it opened in 1907. The bridge was built by Winnipeg city-based John D. Gunn and Sons.

It was unofficially known by many names but never officially named until it was 90 years old. In 2007 city council officially recognised the bridge as the Traffic Bridge.

In 2010, the two-lane bridge was permanently closed due to severe corrosion, mostly along the bottom chord and bottom chord connections, flooring system and deck, according to the historic bridge. It was then partially demolished before this month’s complete demolition done in two phases.

Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking said that most of the bridge’s structural steel, treated wood and asphalt overlay will be recycled.

A new bridge, similar in design, will be built on the same spot and should be open by 2018.

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