A decision has yet to be made for the speed limit on the new north commuter parkway bridge, officially named the Chief Mistawasis Bridge.  Saskatoon City Council voted unanimously to postpone the decision on a speed limit for the bridge which is set to open in October.  The report from city administration suggested a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour  in order to accomodate the risk of wildlife with the roadway passing through the northeast swale.

With the absence of Councillor Troy Davies at Monday’s meeting, the vote for a 60 km/h speed limit failed on a 5-5 tie with Councillors Donauer, Dubois, Hill, Iwanchuk and Jeffries voting against the 60 kilometres per hour so that is no longer considered an option as a speed limit for the bridge.

Councillor Jeffries then put forward a motion to put a 70 km/h speed limit on the bridge suggesting a lower speed limit creates a speed-trap.

Darren Hill then made the motion to defer speed limit decision to next month’s council meeting which is scheduled for Monday, September 24th, just weeks before the bridge is expected to open.

Other various locations across the city will be seeing speed limits lowered including Betts Avenue which will be reduced from 60 km/h to 50, Clarence Avenue from a point 50 metres south of Circle Drive to Stonebridge Boulevard will be reduced to 50 km/h, 8th Street from Moss Avenue to a point 400 metres east of McKercher Drive will be reduced to 50 km/h, College Drive from a point 800 metres east of McOrmond Drive to the east city limits will go down 10 kilometres to 90 km/h and Highway 41 from College Drive to the east city limit also be reduced by 10 kilometres to 90 kilometres per hour.

City administration says with the decision to move the topic of a speed limit on the bridge to next month, won’t delay the opening of the bridge as administration says they will ensure there is appropriate signage for when the bridge officially opens.