File Photo from June 2023

At Wednesday’s Saskatoon City Council meeting the city administration was asked what plans are in the works to secure the University Bridge in light of the most recent fire from an encampment.

A sewer line was melted by the January 19th fire and wastewater ran down the bank and into the South Saskatchewan River.

Saskatoon’s General Manager of Transportation and Construction says they are restricting access at arches and piers on the University Bridge which is where access is being gained. That location and abutments are eight feet off the ground and difficult to reach but they are in the process of restricting access even more.

Terry Schmidt says they are installing security fencing which will be a welded expanded metal sheet with razor wire.

Bypass piping was installed while a repair was put in place in the wake of the fire.  The walkway on the north side of the Bridge and under the far west end have both reopened. The Meewasin Trail under the east side of the University Bridge remains closed for additional work to take place this spring.

Once the snow and ice have melted, the area will be treated to eliminate surface bacteria. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Environment Canada, Water Security Agency and the City of Saskatoon will then conduct an environmental reassessment of the site.