(Susan Westgard/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Highway 55 Bridge Project

Highway 55 bridge rehabilitation set to be completed by fall

Jul 26, 2019 | 2:09 PM

The Goverment of Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will be investing in multiple bridge projects across the province.

The province is investing over $20 million this year into four main bridge repairs, including work on the Highway 55 bridge near Nipawin. The release said that project will receive $6.2 million, but according to Steve Shaheen with the ministry, the amount will be closer to $8 million.

“It is a bridge rehabilitation project,” he said. “It involves replacing bearings in the west four spans of the bridge, joints on top of the deck, and the asphalt driving surface, or the paving and the top layer of the concrete.”

The project was initially brought forward a few years back and things were supposed to get underway last year, but some issues with Cliff Swallows created a delay as work could not be done during the migratory season.

However, the project is well underway now and should be completed in fall of this year according to Shaheen.

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He added while work continues, not only at the Highway 55 bridge, but at all the bridge projects, people should expect a few delays.

“This intention is not to inconvenience people,” Shaheen told northeastNOW. “But to get infrastructure back in a kind of condition that everyone can drive safely on.”

The bridge is located just a few minutes north of Nipawin, and is the major route for people going west from that area.

The Highway 55 bridge is just a few minutes north of Nipawin. (Google Maps)

Chief Administrative Officer with the Town of Nipawin, Barry Elliott said the bridge is a key part of the region, and he said everyone is pretty excited to see it finally almost done.

“It’s important that all of our services are able to be maintained,” Elliott said. “That free flow of traffic is able to continue. So, it’s incredibly important for so many businesses and enterprises within our municipality, but we recognize the equal importance to our neighbours.”

Check the Highway Hotline to keep updated on delays at the locations of the bridge projects.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6