MOOSE JAW — With city hall planning to upgrade or address eight major structures — mostly bridges — over the next several years, presented below is a summary of each project.
City administration’s goals this year are to repair the Second Avenue Southeast subway, the Wild Animal Park (WAP) bridge and the Corstorphine bridge, complete a detailed design to rehabilitate the Sioux bridge in Wakamow Valley, and demolish the Coteau Street East bridge.
Moreover, its goals next year are to repair the Manitoba Street East bridge and the Main Street South bridge.
The city also plans to finalize the cost-sharing rehabilitation agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway (CNR) for the Thunderbird (Fourth Avenue) Viaduct — the estimated cost is $22.2 million to $25.1 million — and hopefully begin that work this year.
Most of these upgrades are expected to cost $667,650, while the bridge demolition is pegged at $265,000.
Second Avenue subway
The goal with the Second Avenue Southeast subway is to bring the railing up to national design standards, replace the leaning lock blocks and perform concrete repairs on the retaining walls and sidewalks.
These repairs should cost $244,000; the estimated placement cost is $2,795,000.
Wild Animal Park bridge
The goal with the Wild Animal Park bridge is to replace missing rail sections and upgrade the rail system, install clip angles on the piers, repair the wearing surface and add slope protection.
These repairs should cost $280,000; the estimated replacement value is $2,808,000.
Bevan Harlton, director of operations, told city council during its May 26 executive committee meeting that a deck condition survey revealed the bridge is still structurally sound even though it appears to be deteriorating.
Corstorphine bridge
The goal with the Corstorphine bridge is to upgrade the approach rails, restore the skid-resistant wearing surface, add slope protection, install hazard signs, reinstate coating on the rails and install joints at the abutments to prevent water leakage.
These repairs should cost $184,500; the estimated replacement cost is $512,000.
Sioux bridge
City hall plans to make 17 repairs worth $1,940,000 to Sioux bridge this year and next year, with the biggest — and most costly — task being the removal of lead paint.
Some other upgrades include repairing the concrete abutments, replacing the bracing system, tightening loose connections, installing joints, installing guardrails and tightening loose sidewalk planks.
The estimated replacement value is $1,640,000.
Harlton said it was unfortunate that removing the lead paint requires the most money since the concrete abutments “are in such bad shape” that they should be — but are not — the most urgent cost-focused repairs.
He added that his department must continue evaluating design solutions, replacement values and current and future uses and then discuss with council what to do with that structure.
Manitoba Street East bridge
The city has eight repairs worth $337,000 scheduled to fix the Manitoba Street East bridge, such as adding slope protection, repairing girders, repairing the sidewalk concrete and upgrading the railing.
The estimated replacement value is $6,481,000.
Main Street South bridge
City hall plans to make eight repairs worth $135,000 to the Main Street South bridge, such as upgrading the railing to national standards, repairing curb and sidewalk concrete, installing hazard signs and addressing tripping hazards.
The estimated replacement cost is $2,060,000.
The next executive committee meeting is Monday, June 9.
